Tuesday night was a big night.
Barcelona were playing which, in itself, is an attraction.
They were playing a Premier League team which, like it or not, appeals to Irish neighbours across the sea.
Pep Guardiola was up against a team he once transformed into what many called the best ever. And he did it all, he faced his old love, he challenged the greatest team in the world while impersonating a mime artist.
Three of the best four players on the planet were in town and playing on the same attack.
Messi and Neymar were doing this.
Ter Stegen was doing this.
But TV3 were showing this.
FT! M'Gladbach 1-1 CELTIC
Live reaction on @TV3Ireland right now.
Watch all the @ChampionsLeague goals on @TV3Ireland from 10#TV3UCL— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 1, 2016
That’s right. On the same night that Barcelona were playing with all those back stories and added interest, on the same night that Barcelona were toppled with Man City scoring more goals in one night than they ever have done against the Spanish giants, TV3 had us whisked away to Germany to watch Borussia Monchengladbach against Celtic.
The two bottom teams in the same group as Man City and Barca were chosen to be shown live presumably out of interest to some of the Celtic fans that might’ve been lying around. But there were far more neutrals looking to watch decent football.
@TV3Ireland why is the Celtic game on and not City Barcelona?
— Conor (@LilConFromCabra) November 1, 2016
How is @TV3Ireland showing the Celtic game ahead of city and Barcelona ?
— Dáithí Durnin (@Dave_Durnin2k14) November 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/eoingeorge/status/793533859791011845
Best match in Europe tonight? Unquestionably City v Barcelona. Match @TV3Ireland are showing? Borussia v Celtic. Seriously??? ,turning off.
— Sean O' Donovan (@henriksen1) November 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/harvejoe/status/793539752658145281
City playing Barcelona and TV3 decide to show th celtic game , well done @TV3Ireland
— Brian Cleary (@briancleary3) November 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/EoghanMcGrath/status/793543172664287233
https://twitter.com/AdamsBapple/status/793543414763651072
Here @TV3Ireland what genius thought it be a good idea to show Celtic instead of Barcelona and Messi
— TD (@_JTD28) November 1, 2016
@TV3Ireland @TV3SportIreland seriously why are ye showing the muck celtic game over the city v Barcelona… Are ye mad????
— Brendan Mulhall (@Mulhockeyjoc) November 1, 2016
And don’t even try to make it seem more fun.
@TV3Ireland how did ye miss that Man City are playing Barcelona tonight?!? 😥 Very poor decision to show Celtic.
— Robert Fingleton 🇪🇺🇮🇪 (@RobertFingleton) November 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/brendan_needham/status/793543715373678596
TV3 usually get it right. They were the ones who made the ballsy decision to not show United last year and, instead, change the plan and broadcast Real Madrid v PSG. They got all the acclaim they deserved for that piece of courage and for simply being in touch with the demands of the public.
On Tuesday night though, they got it so wrong. BT Sport showed the only game that most people were interested in and those who didn’t have a subscription were forced to go trawling the world of illegal streaming. The Celtic game wasn’t a consolation. It just wasn’t an option.
Tyrone footballer Cathal McCarron chats to Colm Parkinson about the gambling addiction he battled to escape. Subscribe here on iTunes.
