Jeff Stelling, the presenter of Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports, caused a stir when he appeared on air wearing bright pink tracksuit bottoms. The 67-year-old presenter opened the show by joking that he had to be on top of his game with Gary Lineker now available to pinch his job. However, it was his choice of attire that really caught the attention of viewers. Stelling was wearing a suit jacket, shirt and tie as usual, but revealed salmon pink joggers that were slightly too tight for comfort. Pundits Paul Merson, Clinton Morrison and Kris Boyd were left speechless as they burst into laughter at the sight of Stelling’s unusual trousers.
Stelling explained that he was wearing the pink tracksuit bottoms in solidarity with Sky Sports reporter Michelle Owen, who had been criticised on social media for wearing fuchsia bottoms during Plymouth’s win over Derby on Tuesday. Stelling said that he had vowed to show solidarity with Owen and her choice of clothing. He tweeted Owen on Tuesday night to tell her of his plans, to which she replied: “You can borrow mine – we are a similar height!”
Fans watching at home loved Stelling’s public response to the criticism of Owen’s clothing. One fan tweeted: “Some people will make any excuse to criticise female presenters and pundits, good on Jeff for calling it out.” Another wrote: “Don’t understand people like that. Michelle Owen is one of the best around in all honesty. Love the trackies Jeff Stelling.” A third fan simply added: “Go on, Jeff.”
Stelling has been a presenter on Soccer Saturday since 1994 and is known for his quick wit and encyclopaedic knowledge of football. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the Sports Journalists’ Association’s Sports Broadcaster of the Year award in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. He was also awarded an OBE in 2016 for services to sport and broadcasting.
Stelling’s choice of clothing may have been unusual, but it was not the first time that a presenter has caused a stir with their attire. In 2017, BBC presenter Simon McCoy made headlines when he presented a news report holding a stack of A4 paper instead of an iPad. McCoy later joked that he had been “handed the wrong script” and had “decided to carry on regardless”.
In 2019, BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty was criticised by some viewers for wearing a sleeveless dress on air. Munchetty responded to the criticism by saying that she was “comfortable and confident” in her choice of clothing and that she would continue to wear what she wanted.
The issue of what presenters wear on air has been a topic of debate for many years. Some argue that presenters should dress formally to maintain a sense of professionalism, while others believe that presenters should be allowed to wear what they want as long as it is appropriate for the occasion. Ultimately, it is up to individual broadcasters to decide what their presenters wear on air.
In the case of Jeff Stelling and Michelle Owen, their choice of clothing was a statement of solidarity against those who seek to criticise female presenters for their appearance. It was a bold move that won them plenty of support from fans and colleagues alike. Whether or not Stelling will wear pink tracksuit bottoms again remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – he will continue to be one of the most popular and respected presenters in sports broadcasting.