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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Tutton

Soccer Aid viewers complain within minutes over 'impossible to watch' coverage

Soccer Aid viewers were all complaining within minutes of the broadcast airing ahead of kick-off on Sunday night.

Many fans confessed they weren't sure they could even watch the match, after noticing something about the crowd at the stadium where it was being held.

Soccer Aid was back for 2023 on Sunday night, as team England prepared to take on the Soccer Aid World XI at Old Trafford.

A crowd of up to 75,000 is expected to be in attendance to watch their favourite stars take to the field in support of UNICEF.

But viewers tuning in at home were immediately left "annoyed", as a familiar sound filled the stadium and it was not welcomed.

As hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alex Scott hosted live from the stadium ahead of the game commencing, their voices were drowned out by the sounds of horns.

While it's not clear if the fans brought them into the stadium or if they were on the seats waiting for them, viewers at home quickly called for a "ban" on the item.

Many said within minutes of the show that they were getting frustrated with the constant loud noises, with horns going constantly and every time someone spoke.

Soccer Aid viewers were all complaining within minutes of the broadcast airing (ITV)

Taking to Twitter, viewers shared their complaints and begged the crowd to stop using the horns.

One viewer said: "I'm getting really old I think, but the incessant horn/vuvuzela on @socceraid is making it impossible to watch."

Another fan tweeted: "Are ITV playing this air horn noise in artificially, or is it just constant in the stadium? It’s doing my head in."

A third viewer tweeted: "I thought I'd watch Soccer Aid as sometimes it's a good laugh. But who's idea was it hand out them annoying vuvuzela's? The absolute worst noise when trying to watch football man. Guess I need a plan B," while a fourth said: "Vuvuzela should be banned on televised games."

The presenters were praising this year's line-up as the best yet, as the teams prepared to take on the challenge on Sunday.

Queen of the Jungle Jill Scott was confirmed to be skipper for the England side, and she will be up against opposition skipper Usain Bolt.

The England team line-up includes recently retired former England players Gary Cahill and Jack Wilshere, who are joined on the home side by Man United legends Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville.

Many fans confessed they weren't sure they could even watch the match (ITV)

Former captain Liam Payne is representing the home side, with Danny Dyer, Asa Butterfield and Tom Hiddleston.

The World XI, meanwhile, has some legends of the game, with Roberto Carlos, Nani, Francesco Totti and Gabriel Batistuta all turning out for Bolt's team.

They are joined by Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster as well as Tommy Fury, Noah Beck, Steven Bartlett and Lee Mack.

There are plenty of other big names on the bill too, as the two teams battle it out on the pitch.

One regular player missing this time around is TV personality Mark Wright, who has played in the last six matches.

Earlier this year he ruled himself out of the Old Trafford match as he already had filming commitments for a number of TV projects.

He said back in February: "On a personal level I've decided not to do Soccer Aid this year. I have done it for six years in a row now and I love it, I love the charity and would love to be involved and still raise money for Unicef.

"If I'm around I'll maybe still watch the game, but I just need to keep myself free around that time. I need to let someone else have a go and maybe I'll come back next year but for now I'm going to have a year out."

Soccer Aid is available to watch on ITV1 and ITVX.

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