Martin Tyler has long been the subject of criticism from rival supporters, with some accusing him of showing bias towards certain clubs throughout his career as the lead commentator for Sky Sports. One particular incident has been cited as evidence of his alleged bias, dating back to 2015 when Liverpool were defeated 3-1 at Old Trafford. On that day, Martin Martial came off the bench to score on his debut, to which Tyler let out a loud “YES” of celebration. In contrast, when Christian Benteke scored a stunning bicycle kick just two minutes earlier, Tyler’s commentary was much more subdued.
Tyler has recently spoken out about this incident on an episode of “Shirt Shopping” with AwayDays, insisting that he was not showing bias but rather reacting to the natural ebb and flow of the game. He argues that when the away team scores, it is often harder to generate the same level of passion and excitement due to the crowd noise and atmosphere, and that he does not have a conscious bias towards any particular club.
However, he did admit that he has a personal connection to certain players, which can affect his commentary. He shared a anecdote about Rickie Lambert, who he had seen come up through the lower divisions and eventually become a Premier League player. Tyler said that he had previously commentated on Lambert, starting with his first game after he signed with Southampton, and that his personal connection to the player had influenced his commentary on that game.
Tyler also spoke about the challenges of balancing objectivity with his own personal connections, stating that it can be difficult to separate his own feelings from his objective commentary. However, he maintained that he does not have a bias towards any particular club, pointing out that he is a lifelong fan of non-league team Woking. Despite this, he acknowledged that his personal connections to certain players can still impact his commentary, citing an example from a game in which Lambert scored the winning goal for Southampton, where Tyler’s personal reaction was evident in his commentary. While he acknowledged that this could be seen as bias, he pointed out that Southampton ultimately lost the game, so he didn’t upset anyone.
