Alex Scott quits Disney+ role as Women’s Champions League presenter

Alex Scott, the former Football Focus host, has left her role as a presenter of the Women’s Champions League coverage on Disney+.

It is understood it was Scott’s decision to walk away and focus on other projects, including her new show, One More Word WSL, with her fellow former England internationals Anita Asante and Fara Williams.

Scott had fronted the streaming platform’s coverage of the elite women’s European club competition since it obtained the rights in 2025. However, Disney’s production levels were criticised after the opening round following a series of technical problems. These included an unscheduled advert break that interrupted the second half of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over HB Køge for more than three minutes.

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A spokesperson for Disney+ told the Guardian: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Alex Scott for her contribution to our coverage of the Uefa Women’s Champions League on Disney+. Her passion for the women’s game and the competition shone through throughout her time with us, and we are grateful for all she contributed. We wish her every success.”

Scott, a former England and Arsenal defender and former contestant on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing and ITV’s I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!, has also presented major sports shows for the BBC, including coverage of the 2020 Olympics. Scott’s representatives said: “Alex is grateful for the opportunities she has had to work with the team at Disney+ and hopes that they continue to work together in the future.”

Scott presented the BBC’s Football Focus show for five seasons before its closure this year. At the start of this season’s Women’s Super League campaign she launched One More Word through her own production company, First Cap Productions, and has previously explained that show was createdin response to the BBC cancelling its weekly WSL highlights show.

Scott, who turned 42 on Wednesday, told the Observer, this month: “I feel like there’s always an excuse about women’s football shows not working because of the viewership or needing to save money. Whereas I think if they are done right, they can work, if things are given a fresh idea or a fresh format, they can work.”

In the same interview, discussing some of the criticism aimed at Disney’s Women’s Champions League coverage this term, Scott said: “Ultimately, do I agree with all the decisions that were made? Absolutely not. Did I try and advise? Yes, but I can only do so much.

“But nobody sees the conversations, the fights I have behind the scenes. But I can hold my head up and know that I’ve always tried my best for the greater good of women’s sport.”

Sources have told the Guardian the presenter’s relationship with Disney remains positive. Disney, whose coverage is produced by ESPN, secured an exclusive five-year deal to broadcast the Women’s Champions League across European broadcast territories in 2025. It is understood its presenting team will continue to include Shebahn Aherne, Nedum Onuoha and Lianne Sanderson. The lineup includes commentators such as Vicki Sparks and Jacqui Oatley. The competition resumes on 28 October.