Match of the Day viewers have had their say on the show’s big changes – but not all of them were impressed with Wayne Rooney’s shaky debut.
Mark Chapman presented the first edition of the new-look BBC highlights programme on Saturday night and will share the hot seat with Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan.
Rooney, 39, was snapped up as an expert panellist for the new campaign after his most recent management job at Plymouth ended in his sacking last December.
The experienced Chapman had stepped in to host Match of the Day when Lineker was not available and also regularly fronted the Sunday show, Match of the Day 2.
He was joined by Rooney and MOTD veteran Alan Shearer on Saturday night to begin the new era of the flagship programme, but viewers were underwhelmed.
Rooney, who signed a bumper £800,000 deal with the BBC and was pictured in good spirits arriving at the studio, was the target of particular criticism.
Mark Chapman presented the first new-look Match of the Day of the season
Wayne Rooney made his debut on the show but viewers were unimpressed
BBC veteran Chapman will share the hot seat with Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates
One X user said: ‘I’m going to say this now as it will be said all season; I mean no offence to him personally, but having Wayne Rooney on MOTD is a big mistake.’
Another was underwhelmed with the standard of the post-match discussions, adding: ‘Rooney’s punditry makes me nostalgic for the mute button.
‘Great player, dreadful analysis.’
Chapman, viewed as a safe pair of hands to begin the transition away from Gary Lineker’s lengthy era, was largely praised after his first appearance of the season.
‘My goodness, what an upgrade in presenter,’ one viewer said.
‘Mark Chapman is the best in the business.’
However, not everyone was on board with the show sticking to its usual format.
‘Rather than an exciting new #MOTD format, much as I like Mark Chapman, this just looks like a Sunday night,’ one X user posted.
The three-strong presenting team were drafted in to replace Gary Lineker
Lineker departed the BBC at the end of last season and had presented the show since 1999
Another simply said: ‘Not the same without Lineker.’
Chapman began the show with a cheeky joke at Rooney’s expense.
During the opening segment, he alluded to the changes on the panel, but instead of speaking about Lineker’s departure, he referenced the addition of Rooney.
Chapman said: ‘Evening. The Premier League is back and Match of the Day is back. You may have seen and heard that there is a big change to the show this season and that is Wayne Rooney has joined us as a regular pundit.
‘Some things don’t change, though. Alan [Shearer] is still here.’
Lineker presented his final show at the end of last season. Despite planning to front the BBC’s live coverage of the FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup, he departed early after sharing a post about Zionism featuring a depiction of a rat, which has anti-semitic connotations.
The 63-year-old, the BBC’s highest-paid presenter on £1.35million a year and host of Match of the Day since 1999, apologised but said it was ‘best for all concerned’ if he left completely.
