The final whistle of the Champions League showdown between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal on May 30th left more than just a trophy up for grabs—it also exposed some glaring oversights from the broadcasting booth. The PSG-Arsenal final, which ended in a nail-biting 1-1 draw before PSG triumphed in the penalty shootout, became an unexpected source of entertainment for football fans and critics alike.

Julien Cazarre’s lively talk show Les Nuits du Cazarre enchaîné on RMC Sport didn’t just analyze the match—it dissected the commentary blunders that marred the broadcast. With a mix of humor and sharp wit, Cazarre and his co-host Jean-Christophe Drouet turned the spotlight on the media’s missteps, turning a usually serious post-match analysis into a comedic highlight reel.

When commentators lose their footing

The first casualty of the broadcast blitz was a radio commentator from Ici Paris, who mistook Kai Havertz—Arsenal’s opening scorer at the 6th minute—for Leandro Trossard, even going so far as to mispronounce his name as “Tossard.” The error didn’t stop there. Colleagues at RMC Sport, despite broadcasting the very show mocking these mistakes, also confused Havertz with Declan Rice, the defensive midfielder. “Was the commentators’ booth located in the stadium toilets?” Cazarre quipped, adding a layer of sarcastic disbelief to the discussion.

Drouet chimed in with his own observations, pointing out another commentator’s misuse of the phrase “faire le dos rond” (to brace oneself), which was incorrectly rendered as “faire le gros dos” (to make a big back). The duo didn’t stop at isolated incidents—they compiled a list of repeated phrases, particularly the overused and often mispronounced “contre-pied parfait” (perfect counter-attack), which seemed to be a staple in every commentator’s vocabulary, yet frequently mangled.

A comedy goldmine for fans, cringe for journalists

The segment didn’t just stop at highlighting errors—it invited listeners to participate in future critiques through the “Balance ton com’” (Snitch your com’) initiative, aimed at calling out commentary slip-ups during major tournaments like the World Cup. The lighthearted yet unrelenting roast of broadcast professionals provided a rare moment of levity in the high-stakes world of sports journalism, where precision is paramount.

Whether it was confusion over player identities or the butchering of French football idioms, the Champions League final became as much about the on-field drama as it was about the off-field comedic fallout. For fans, it was a chance to laugh at the expense of those paid to guide their viewing experience. For the commentators in question, it was a humbling reminder that even the most prepared professionals can slip up when the spotlight shines brightest.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst