Clive Tyldesley says football commentators should be allowed to use the F-word ‘once a season without losing their job’

CLIVE Tyldesley says he and other football commentators should be allowed to use the F-word.

The veteran footballer, 69, who spent more than 20 years at ITV, said: “Sometimes it’s the only word that works.”

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He added: “I think once a season a commentator should be able to use the F-word without losing his job.

“Some goals, some moments, some mistakes, simply require an expletive – the expletive – to capture their full impact.”

Speaking to former manager Martin O’Neill on the Football Authorities podcast, Clive added: “I would need to choose my moment carefully. . . But sometimes you need to say what you see.”

In 2018, commentator Gary Neville was heard on Sky Sports saying something was “fucking obvious”

Tyldesley, 69, who appears on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, also criticized Wembley security after pitch invasions disrupted last Saturday’s Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.

The commentator – who has covered five World Cups, 17 Champions League finals and nine FA Cup finals – said: “The pitch invasions at the start of Saturday’s game were no laughing matter.

“I think there are now all sorts of implications for Wembley’s ability to host big international games.

“It’s a real concern.”