Two Sky Sports interns were reportedly sent home after fans spotted them celebrating a goal live on air.
In now-viral footage, the pair can be seen gleefully erupting and embracing each other behind the news presenter as a 93rd-minute goal went in.
The moment, which was broadcast on Sky Sports 24 in Italy, was captured by one eagle-eyed fan on Sunday evening during the broadcaster’s live reporting of Hellas Verona vs Inter Milan on Sunday.
It shows the presenter providing updates of the match at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi as it enters its closing stages, before Inter snatched a late victory through a Martin Frese own goal.
As the goal went in, thanks to a major deflection, the youngsters can then be seen jumping from their chairs and grabbing each other before quickly shuffling out of camera shot.
However, it appears that their attempts to play down the celebrations were too little too late for Sky Sports Italy director, Federico Ferri, who is said to have told them to pack their bags and leave the studio.
According to Italian journalist Francesco Ordine, who reposted a video of the celebrations on X, Ferri was quick to reprimand the interns.
‘The Director of Sky Sport intervened promptly by sending the two ultra interns home and signing a very tough internal circular on the extremely delicate matter,’ Ordine wrote.
Italian outlet Lettera43 then shared an letter allegedly sent to Ferri by editorial staff.
An extract of the letter is said to read: ‘Dear colleagues, today the editorial staff was the protagonist of a scene unworthy of our profession and of the prestige and seriousness that distinguish and should distinguish Sky Sport.
‘I say ‘the editorial staff’, meaning all of us, because for the people outside, there aren’t individual perpetrators, but Sky Sport, period. And when one of us makes a fool of ourselves, we all make a fool of ourselves.
‘Celebrating a goal by any team, whatever it is, in any match, and putting on bar-room or stadium-style antics (unfortunately, this also applies to the press boxes, but that’s another matter) is always unacceptable, especially if the scene ends up on air.’
The letter then goes on to demand impartiality from staff in a bid to ensure they act like ‘journalists, not fans’, according to the report.
However, the decision has not gone down well with a contingent of fans online.
One wrote on X: ‘It happens to everyone… yeah, we’re fans… there’s passion.’
Another added: ‘Come on… if you get close to football it’s because first you’re a fan… Then during the broadcasts you have to try to be impartial… it was a behind the scenes.’
A third questioned: ‘Is it forbidden to cheer for your own team?’
Sky Italy have been approached for comment.
