Sky Sports issue apology after triple blunder in first half of new EFL season

Sky Sports were forced to issue an apology to EFL fans after THREE major errors on the opening weekend of the season. League One and Two returned across the weekend to signal the start of the 2025/26 professional league season.

There was drama right across the divisions - but it appears that also spread to the Sky Sports studio having offered live coverage of the opening weekend. Among the games that they covered on Soccer Saturday was Plymouth Argyle’s opening League One clash against Barnsley following their relegation from the Championship last season.

But things got off to a bad start after Julian Warren threw over to pundit Jamie Mackie after being led to believe that Caleb Watts had given Plymouth the lead. But the strike was ruled out for a foul in the build-up.

There was then another howler as Warren claimed that there had been another Plymouth goal, only to find out it was indeed a Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu own goal to put Barnsley ahead. Warren said: "Goal for Plymouth, we have heard this before. Does this one count, Jamie Mackie?"

Mackie then replied "It is a Plymouth player that scored... but it is at the wrong end,” despite the scoreboard graphic claiming that Plymouth were in the lead.

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That was then quickly changed, with Warren adding: "It is Barnsley who are in front. Apologies for the slight moment of excitement for you Plymouth fans, only to find out you're behind."

Sky then made it a hat-trick of errors as Adam Phillips doubled the lead for Barnsley. But Sky Sports issued a correction claiming that the game was still 1-0 to the Tykes.

Warren hilariously said: "I think the vidiprinter might still be on holiday, lying on a lounger with a couple of pina coladas."

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There was no drama throughout the second half, albeit supporters still took aim at the channel for other changes. Their decision to change their scoreboard graphic was one of those slammed. One fan said: “This new sky sports scoreboard graphic is horrid.”

A further viewer wrote: “What in God’s name have sky sports done to the scoreboard,” while another added: “New sky sports scoreboard for efl is horrid.”

There was also criticism during Cardiff’s opening day win against Peterborough after fans pointed out that the channel decided not to show the amount of stoppage time during the game.

One fan said: “I don’t really have any issue with the new Sky Sports scoreboard but what I can’t get onboard with is them not showing the added time,” with another adding: “Why don't @SkySportsPL @SkySports @SkyFootball show how many minutes added on anymore on the scoreboard??”

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