Noel Gallagher was a surprise addition to the commentary for Manchester City’s Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon last night (November 5) – and viewers weren’t impressed.
The Oasis and High Flying Birds musician – who is a lifelong Man City fan – joined Darren Fletcher and co-commentator Ally McCoist throughout TNT Sports’ live coverage of the match. He was on co-comms duty alongside the professionals for the entire game.
However, Gallagher saw the reigning Premier League champions lose 4-1 to Sporting (helmed by incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim) at Lisbon’s Estádio José Alvalade.
The match marked Man City’s third loss in as many games following recent defeats from Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur.
Gallagher’s punditry resulted in negative responses, with many suggesting that he shouldn’t have been involved. The backlash was largely due to TNT opting for a musician instead of someone more qualified, rather than anything NG said specifically.
Others claimed that the commentary would be “biased” because of Gallagher’s well-documented love for Man City.
Writing on YouTube, one viewer commented: “It’s a mockery.” When asked why this was the case, another person replied: “Because nobody wants bias[ed] commentary. He’s a city fan commentating on a city game.”
Someone else said: “So Gallagher is commentating now, that must mean Matt Lucas is next for the Arsenal game tonight.” The unexpected Gallagher appearance was also called “utterly ridiculous”.
He just loves a European night
4⃣ goal contributions in 4⃣ #UCL games for Phil Foden this season.
@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/QudUiT08xM
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 5, 2024
On X/Twitter, a fan appeared to sarcastically call out the “lovely unbiased commentary” from Gallagher on TNT Sports.
Elsewhere, someone shared: “I love Noel Gallagher, but he’s actually commentating on a Champions League game involving the team he supports. What the feck is happening to football on TV in this country? No wonder people don’t pay for subscriptions anymore.”
Another viewer wrote: “No way that’s Noel Gallagher on commentary. I thought it was just some random ex-City player.” There was also a question over why the channel didn’t opt for a “City legend” instead.
Captioning a clip of Gallagher speaking from the stadium, a fan said: “There’s no way to even begin to twist things to suggest Noel can be categorised as a pundit, TNT Sports have brought a City fan to commentate on City’s CL game. It’s a totally bizarre commitment to watering down the standard of football coverage on TV.”
A separate comment read: “Noel Gallagher on Champions League commentary may well be the most ‘the games gone’ moment to date. Absurd.”
Others wondered whether this would pave the way for more figures from the music world to get involved with football on this level. “Are we going to have Ed Sheeran on co-comms for the Ipswich Town v Man Utd game in a couple of weeks?” one asked.
Another joked: “TNT have Noel Gallagher commentating on the City match tonight…wonder if they’ll have Ozzy doing the Villa tomorrow night.” Someone even suggested that “Oasis [being] back has cursed Man City”.
But some fans seemed to enjoy it. “Noel on co-commentary was the Tuesday night we didn’t know we needed,” one tweeted. Someone else posted: “Absolute solid gold TV.”
You can see a selection of reactions here:
I love (love) Noel Gallagher, but he’s actually commentating on a Champions League game involving the team he supports. What the feck is happening to football on TV in this country? No wonder people don’t pay for subscriptions anymore.
— Rob Harries (@robharries83) November 5, 2024
No way that's Noel Gallagher on commentary
I thought it was just some random ex city player
— Ross (@Ross__05) November 5, 2024
We’re in here’ lovely unbiased commentary @footballontnt
— getaSaka (@Charles_AFC_) November 6, 2024
We’re in here’ lovely unbiased commentary @footballontnt
— getaSaka (@Charles_AFC_) November 6, 2024
No way that's Noel Gallagher on commentary
— Ross (@Ross__05) November 5, 2024
Couldn't find a City legend for Co comms so opted for a washed up guitarist. https://t.co/FKvjPUXS0o
— James (@writtenoff_mufc) November 5, 2024
TNT have Noel Gallagher commentating on the Citeh match tonight…wonder if they'll have Ozzy doing the Villa tomorrow night… pic.twitter.com/jN2ciekTgr
— VillaTwat
(@JohnHaw59140053) November 5, 2024
oasis back has cursed man city
— dave kennedy (@dkennedy337) November 5, 2024
There's no way to even begin to twist things to suggest Noel can be categorised as a pundit, TNT Sports have brought a City fan to commentate on City's CL game. It's a totally bizarre commitment to watering down the standard of football coverage on TV.pic.twitter.com/16sejdlLC3 https://t.co/k8A83WwMlf
— Will Comish (@WillComish) November 5, 2024
Why is NG commentating, are different celebrities going to start commenting on their favourite clubs too ?
— Eagle _ (@Eagle69_69_) November 5, 2024
And it's utterly ridiculous
— Mr G Grey (@mrtull1) November 5, 2024
I know Noel isn't every fuckers cup of tea and loves a cheeky freebie but can't lie it's refreshing to sit and watch a City game and get balanced fair commentary probably just echoing what most of us are sat here thinking
— Jay Greenhalgh (@Saladabap) November 5, 2024
Noel G’ commentating city 1-0 up says ‘Didn’t think it would be this easy’ literally 10 mins of football later City 3-1 down …
— Jase Whelan (@WiJayWhelan) November 5, 2024
Absolute solid gold TV.
— Matt
(@shadymanc72) November 5, 2024
Noel Gallagher on commentary for Man City, my head has fell off the games fucked, always thought we arent far away from a youtuber getting a game but they’ll deffo be on commentary within a couple of years, awful sport this is becoming
— Sean Ward (@seanward94) November 5, 2024
Noel Gallagher is on co-commentator duty for the City game tonight. Really not sure about this. Where does it end? “Time now for Cardiff versus Watford. Let’s go across to our commentary team – it’s Bill Leslie and Shakin’ Stevens.”
— Bruce Millington (@brucemillington) November 5, 2024
Listening to Noel have the wind knocked out of his sails is the best part of this game
— Nik Boyle (@NikBoyle) November 5, 2024
Noel Gallagher on city commentary what the hell is going on
— Dun (@mulinotxt) November 5, 2024
Noel fcking Gallagher actually commentating on the city game, wtaf
But they’re losing 4-1
https://t.co/HeOkIPaPVP
— Fran Mallon (@FranMallon1) November 5, 2024
Gallagher has dabbled in football punditry before, as The Independent notes.
Earlier this year, commentator and former England and Man U player Gary Neville hit back at the singer-songwriter’s taunts after Manchester City’s Premier League victory. “He lives in London!” he said. “You can’t start talking about Manchester.”
In September, Gallagher and Man City launched a new kit for the 24/25 season inspired by Oasis’ 1994 debut album, ‘Definitely Maybe’ – dubbed ‘Definitely City’.
Speaking about the collaboration, Gallagher explained: “I loved City before anything, I was into City before I was into music, I was into City before I knew what music was. ‘Definitely Maybe’ is what set us on our way, the record lasting as long, you can’t predict that kind of thing. It’s a great working class, Mancunian record – it’s real.”
He continued: “When PUMA approached us at one of the games about designing a kit it took about five seconds to agree to it. It’s the same colour palette as the cover of ‘Definitely Maybe’: it’s unique but it’s definitely striking, and I think it looks great. When you see people representing your Club, it’s important that they look good.”
The singer-songwriter had previously announced a Manchester City/ ‘Definitely Maybe’ clothing range. Over the summer, Gallagher designed the font on Manchester City’s home kit.
NG made headlines in May when he was spotted refusing to do the Poznan in a sea of celebrating Man City fans. After being called out by his brother and Oasis bandmate Liam for not joining in, Noel explained that he didn’t take part as he was “still feeling the effects of a rather spectacular night out”.
At the time, Noel was asked whether there was any jeopardy in supporting a side as dominant as Man City.
He responded: “I think there’ll be a certain section of the fans who will have no nerves but the people I go with are from a different era so we’ll always have nerves.
“We’ve supported the team for like 50 years, but the younger generation think we’re going to walk it and that’s it.”
Oasis’ 2025 reunion world tour is due to kick off in the UK and Ireland next summer before the band visit the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia and South America.
In a report in September, NME exclusively revealed that the Britpop group would be playing shows in Australia and South America. The article also listed upcoming appearances in South Korea and Japan – which have yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Liam Gallagher has teased that he was “blown away” by material that Noel had written for a new Oasis album.
The post Fans react to Noel Gallagher’s Man City vs Sporting Lisbon commentary: “Utterly ridiculous” appeared first on NME.
