BBC hit back at Mark Chapman MOTD 'bust-up' claims as strong statement released

Match of the Day presenter Mark Chapman drew comments over his demeanour when leading the programme last week

The BBC has rubbished reports that Mark Chapman had a 'bust-up' with the broadcaster's Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski before last week's Match of the Day. It has been claimed that Chapman's mood on the show was as a direct result of an interaction with the BBC as fans called out his unusual demeanour.

Initial reports suggested that the presenter's dour mood had in part been down to a 'strained relationship with Kay-Jelski'. Mail Online went on to report that there had been a bust-up with his boss before Match of the Day went live.

The report suggested that Chapman was unimpressed with the punditry lineup and told Kay-Jelski that. The 53-year-old was joined by Steph Houghton and former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, the latter of whom was 'suspected' to have been invited due to his friendship with Kay-Jelski after the BBC chief helped write his autobiography in 2024.

But the BBC have denied any suggestion of a tiff and rejected the notion that Kay-Jelski had any role in selecting the panel for Match of the Day.

A BBC spokesperson told the Express: “Both Mark and Alex are explicit there was no 'falling out' or disagreement.

"Furthermore, Alex had absolutely no involvement whatsoever in the selection of pundits for last week’s Match of the Day, so the suggestion that could have caused any angst is entirely false. There is no truth to this story whatsoever and the 'sources' alleging any of this happened are, sadly, lying.”

Chapman has served as a permanent co-presenter of the BBC programme since Gary Lineker's departure at the conclusion of the 2024/25 season. He shares the role alongside Kelly Cates, whom he is now dating and Gabby Logan.

The Sports Agents host drew plenty of comment due to his demeanour on Match of the Day, which showed Aston Villa overcoming Manchester City.

One X user wrote: "MOTD is hilarious tonight! Chappers looks like he's lost 20 quid and found a quid! He's so blunt it's laughable! I don't think he realises he gets an extra hour in bed tonight!".

"Football is supposed to be fun. For God's sake, can somebody tell Match of the Day? Just look at the way Mark Chapman opens the show. Flat. Lifeless. Almost uninterested," added another.

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Newcastle United v Liverpool - Premier League 2026/27 — Mark Chapman is a major player in sport broadcasting (Image: Getty)

"His dry, bored, dead-eyed delivery is sucking the life out of a programme devoted to a sport that should be anything but lifeless," fumed a further fan.

"My favourite moment of Match of the Day so far was the music going at the end of that first [show] on the Saturday night," he said.

"I'm thinking, 'Thank god that's over. Everyone can calm down'.

"I said goodbye, the music went, thank god that's over. We're fine, we've done it, nothing went wrong, I can go home and have a beer."