21 August 2023 , 19:06
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Sky Sports has issued a statement after viewers took issue to comments made during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Everton, saying they have reminded commentators of their "responsibilities".
Everton's players and staff were wearing black armbands for the fixture to honour the memory of Toffees fan Michael Jones. Jones, 26, died following an incident which occurred while he was working on the club's new stadium site.
Bill Leslie and former Everton defender Andy Hinchcliffe were on commentary duty at Villa Park on Sunday. During the broadcast, the pair joked about visiting manager Sean Dyche looking like "a croupier" while wearing a shirt, tie and black armband.
A number of fans complained on social media during the game. Following those responses, Sky Sports have issued a statement to the Echo, with reports suggesting Leslie and Hinchcliffe have both privately expressed remorse.
"We have spoken to everyone involved in the coverage including both the commentators and have reminded them of their responsibilities and the need for care and sensitivity," the statement reads. "We apologise for any upset or distress caused by these comments."
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On the pitch, Everton were beaten 4-0 by Villa. Dyche's team dropped to the bottom of the Premier League table with the defeat, which followed a 1-0 loss to Fulham on opening weekend.
Villa were two goals to the good inside half an hour, with John McGinn opening the scoring and Douglas Luiz making it two from the penalty spot. Leon Bailey made it three early in the second half, with substitute Jhon Duran rounding off the scoring for Unai Emery's side.
"Miles off it. They were better in all departments," Dyche said after the defeat. "Overall, the sharpness, the edge, that is important in a performance, particularly scoring goals.
"They drove in the box, they were more alive than we were defensively. Look, we were miles off it today and it's a strange one because we were really on it last weekend.
"That's what it's got to be. We've got to find consistency. I used that word - consistency - constantly last season, within a performance and week to week and that was badly lacking today."
Next up for Everton is a meeting with Wolves, one of the other Premier League sides without a point to their name so far this term. Gary O'Neil's men lost their opener against Manchester United before suffering a 4-1 loss to Brighton in their home opener.
Villa's next Premier League game sees them take on newly-promoted Burnley on Sunday. Before then, however, they have the first leg of their Conference League play-off against Hibernian, with the victor over two legs progressing to the group stage of this season's competition.