Sky Sports Commentator Apologises After Ukraine Blunder

Martin Tyler decided to apologise for a throwaway comment, whilst on commentary for Ukraine's World Cup qualifying play off against Wales.

Wales hosted their opponents on Sunday evening in a much delayed World Cup qualifier, after the visitors had defeated Scotland in the semi final on Wednesday night.

The two games, which will decide Europe's final spot at the tournament in Qatar in November, was originally scheduled for March but had to be delayed due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Emotions have obviously been extremely high around the games due to the war, with Oleksandr Zinchenko breaking down in tears and pleading for it to end ahead of the Scotland game.

On Sunday though, Tyler managed to give people a giggle around his use of language, as he said Ukraine goalkeeper Heorhiy Bushchan would 'soldier on,' and then quickly apologised, saying, "apologies if I've used that word inappropriately there."

Can't believe Martin Tyler just told Ukraine to soldier on mun 🤦‍♂️

— Steve Davies (@steve_davies88) June 5, 2022

Martin Tyler just said a Ukrainian player will “soldier on” and apologised as soon as he said it. 😂😂😂

— Ames97 (@yobnationalist) June 5, 2022

Couple of Martin Tyler classics already here:

"well, if there was a World Cup for singing, Wales would surely be one of the favourites"

and "the Ukrainian keeper will soldier on.. apologies if I've used that word inappropriately there".

Maniac

— Lee Nicholas (@BrabinsGut) June 5, 2022

martin tyler is such a muppet ffs he just said, “he should be able to soldier on, apologies for the choice of wording” 😭

— + (@samw1t) June 5, 2022

Martin Tyler just said an injured Ukrainian player will "soldier on", only to quickly apologise if he's "used that word inappropriately"

— Alexander Brown (@AlexofBrown) June 5, 2022

Was it really necessary for Martin Tyler to apologise for saying the Ukrainian goalkeeper is “going to soldier on?” It’s a term used in every day life and doesn’t in any way demean the war situation. #WALUKR

— E J Salimian (@ej_sali) June 5, 2022

It's unlikely anyone would have taken the Sky Sports commentator to task over his use of English, considering it's a pretty common phrase used.

If anything, quickly apologising for the incident just shone a light on the slightly awkward moment, and you can only imagine him scrambling in the commentary box for a moment.

Before his faux pas, fans on social media had been excited, and a little perplexed, at the nostalgia of hearing Tyler on a game broadcast on ITV.

The 76-year-old was a regular on the channel throughout the 80s, providing his voice to the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, as well as other games, but has been on Sky since 1990.

With the huge importance of Sunday's game, Sky shared their coverage of the match with ITV, so those tuning in on terrestrial television were hearing a lovely slice of nostalgia.

On the pitch it was Wales who took the lead, after Gareth Bale's free kick was inadvertently directed past the keeper by former West Ham former Andriy Yarmolenko.

The visitors would have thought they should have had a penalty later in the first half when Yarmolenko appeared to be tripped by Joe Allen in the box, but VAR didn't overturn it somehow.