While millions tuned in for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 final, some fans — and even top football figures — couldn’t help but notice who wasn’t on screen.
Fara Williams, England’s most-capped player, was noticeably absent from the BBC’s pundit lineup, and that hasn’t gone down well with everyone.
Rio Ferdinand Speaks Out on the Snub
Former England and Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand didn’t hold back.
Just under an hour before kickoff at St. Jakob-Park in Basel, Ferdinand took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his disbelief, posting:
“How’s @fara_williams47 not on the @BBCSport coverage?”
It was a simple message, but it struck a chord — especially considering Williams’ stellar contribution to English football, both on the pitch and in the studio.
A Record-Breaking Career Ignored?
For those unfamiliar, Williams isn’t just a regular pundit — she’s a legend of the game.
With 172 international caps, she holds the title as England’s most capped footballer, male or female.
Since retiring in 2019, she’s built a reputation as one of the sport’s sharpest analysts, frequently appearing on BBC coverage.
But for Sunday’s Euro 2025 final, the BBC opted for a different lineup.
Host Gabby Logan was joined by Steph Houghton, Ellen White, and Nedum Onuoha — all respected voices, but noticeably missing was Williams.
Williams Moves On to TNT Sports
As it turns out, Williams might have already moved on from the BBC.
Just a day before the final, she announced she’d be joining TNT Sports for the upcoming season.
In a post promoting TNT’s new football coverage, she wrote:
“This is NOT NORMAL,” and added, “Can’t wait to be part of the @footballontnt team!”
It’s a major step for Williams, especially with TNT now holding rights to show Premier League, Champions League, and Women’s FA Cup games.
It looks like she’s gearing up for a big season ahead.
A New Chapter for Both Williams and Ferdinand
Interestingly, Ferdinand also recently stepped away from his own role at TNT Sports.
After covering the Champions League final in May, he bid farewell to the network and is now focusing on new ventures like his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast and charity work.
With both Williams and Ferdinand entering fresh stages of their media careers, their voices are still very much part of the football conversation — even if not always on the same platform.
Fans Still Asking Questions
While Williams’ new gig with TNT helps explain her absence, it hasn’t stopped fans from asking why she wasn’t part of the BBC’s final coverage — especially given her stature in the women’s game.
Whether it was a scheduling conflict, a network switch, or something more behind the scenes, one thing’s clear: fans and former players alike feel Fara Williams deserved to be front and centre for one of the biggest matches in the women’s football calendar.