Source: Daily_Mail
Charles Sale: Nationwide anger over Becks' man-of-the-match farce
England backers Nationwide, who have title sponsorship of the man-of-the-match award, want the selection system changed after the widespread derision that followed Steve Bruce picking substitute David Beckham as the best performer against Belarus.[LNB]ITV pundit and Sunderland manager Bruce admitted in the TV studio and around his club the following day that he couldn't possibly give the more deserving two-goal Peter Crouch the honour because the striker had 'ruined' his summer by turning down a move to the Stadium of Light.[LNB]Bruce was allowed to let a personal grudge affect his selection however much he was joking about it because the FA have decided that the TV pundits involved in the live coverage will choose England's man of the match this season.[LNB] Nationwide anger: England's sponsors want The FA to change their MOM policy[LNB]This followed a period when the FA's chief guest had theresponsibility, which also attracted criticism, especially when GraemeLe Saux chose Steven Gerrard following one of the Liverpoolmidfielder's worst performances for England.[LNB] More from Charles Sale... CHARLES SALE: You can't do both jobs, Triesman is told15/10/09 CHARLES SALE: FA's ambush fear on World Cup bid14/10/09 CHARLES SALE: The BBC's Sports Personality of the Year night is under the spotlight13/10/09 You're hired! Brady to charm the League and rescue 2018 World Cup bid13/10/09 EXCLUSIVE: Karren, you're hired! Brady, David Dein and Paul Elliott called up to put England's flagging 2018 World Cup bid on track12/10/09 CHARLES SALE: 'Crater-faced' BBC commentator Alan Green sees the funny side 12/10/09 Charles Sale: ITV highlight flaw in late Beeb deal11/10/09 Charles Sale: Winter wonderland at Wembley as FA get skates on in dash for cash09/10/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE But Nationwide, in final negotiations over a four-year renewal ofone of the FA's biggest sponsorship deals, would prefer the selectionto be put back in the hands of their sponsorship chief Chris Hull, whoused to ballot the 100-plus journalists who follow England every game.This procedure worked well for years, without controversy.[LNB]Bruce, despite his disputed Beckham viewpoint, impressed the ITVhierarchy in the analyst role and is now high on the list of contendersfor a place in their World Cup pundit squad.[LNB] Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti can guarantee that the StamfordBridge communications department will keep presenting him in the bestlight because his daughter Katya is working there unpaid to continueher media training.[LNB]Katya had a spell with Chelsea TV last season, before her father wasappointed, and has now returned after completing her degree.[LNB]Ancelotti's student son Davida has been watching games on therecommendation of his father to help his sports science studies. He isnot scouting for Chelsea, as had been assumed.[LNB] The joke that the England cricket team will be staying with theirfamilies while on tour in South Africa this winter isn't lost on formerPM and Surrey president John Major.[LNB]Speaking at a Lord's dinner on the subject of the Commonwealth andcricket, Major (right) said: 'God knows what Lord Harris (Englandcricket administrator and second-ever captain) would have made of KevinPietersen and Jonathan Trott playing for England against South Africa.'[LNB] Doha, where England play their next match against Brazil on November14, will be a new experience for the team's travelling support. [LNB]Many fans enjoy drinking and taking their shirts off in public both of which could see them arrested in Qatar and even held in custodyfor six months before they go to court.[LNB] Inverdale's Games gigJohn Inverdale has been chosen to present the BBC's athleticscoverage through to the London 2012 Olympics, despite track and fieldnot being his strongest suit by any means.[LNB]Taking the mic: BBC anchorman John Inverdale[LNB]Inverdale got the nod following an embarrassing BBC presenter play-off at this summer's athletics World Championships in Berlin.[LNB]Inverdale, Hazel Irvine and Jonathan Edwards were given the samenumber of opportunities hosting the coverage, from which the long-termchoice was made. This despite all three of the candidates having doneplenty of BBC work previously from which to be judged.[LNB]Edwards, the 2000 Olympic triple jump champion, does not have enoughpresenter experience to handle the enormity of the 2012 job, but Irvinewill be disappointed.[LNB]She demonstrated far more athletics knowledge in Berlin thanInverdale, who has homework to do on his lap times before the LondonGames.[LNB] The FA's hopes of finding the extra private funding needed to get the National Football Centre in Burton up and running has been made more difficult by a £12mtitle sponsorship having already been allocated to Umbro in 2006.[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People:Kevin Pietersen, Steve Bruce, Steven Gerrard, John Major, Carlo Ancelotti, John Inverdale, Peter Crouch, David BeckhamPlaces:Surrey, Liverpool, London, Berlin, South Africa, United Kingdom, Brazil, QatarOrganisations:National Football Centre
