Criticism from England on ‘fake’ stadium sounds: “Like an American sitcom”

Watford coach Nigel Pearson has expressed concern about using too many technical ‘tricks’ by TV channels to provide supporter sounds to Premier League games in an empty stadium. “It’s a lot like an American sitcom, and I’m not a fan of that,” said Christian Kabasele’s coach.

Last Wednesday, the Premier League resumed after more than three months of forced-corona pause, with the catch-up games Aston Villa-Sheffield United (0-0) and Manchester City-Arsenal (3-0). Due to the corona measures, all matches continue without supporters, and that gave some British TV channels the idea for their viewers to enable them to hear supporter sounds that match the actions on the field.

“I think we should take the situation as it is,” Pearson, who was at the helm of 1B club OH Leuven between September 2017 and February 2019, explained at his press conference on Thursday. The Hornets resume the Premier League in-house on Saturday against the Leicester City of Dennis Praet and Youri Tielemans.

“We still play in-house, only without supporters. We will have to try to survive without their support in our stadium. We hope that the players can overcome that emotional hurdle.”

“What I’m not in favor of are the recorded sounds of supporters,” concluded Pearson. “It looks like an American sitcom. I don’t know if you like that, but I hate them with their laugh band. It creates the wrong ambiance.” Just give it away: 75% of the TV viewers opted for ‘the sitcom sound’ and not for silence.

Watford is currently seventeenth in the Premier League, the first safe place. It counts as many points as number eighteen Bournemouth, but a better goal difference.