beIN Sports condemns on-air remark about Aryna Sabalenka after commentator thought he was off air

Remark during a promotional clip

On Monday evening, 9 November, shortly before Aryna Sabalenka's opening WTA Finals match against Karolina Muchová in Indian Wells, a beIN Sports commentator made a remark about the Belarusian player. A promotional clip showing Sabalenka was on screen after an advert break when he, believing he was off air, told viewers to look at her and called her horrible. Sabalenka won the match 7-6(2), 7-5. Fanpage described the comment as sexist and identified the speaker as Matthieu Solier, a journalist on beIN Sports' French service who previously worked for L'Équipe covering two Olympic Games.

Broadcaster response

The clip was posted on X by the account L'Arène and spread quickly across social networks. The person who spotted it also alerted Arcom, France's broadcast regulator, and confronted Florent Houzot, beIN Sports' director of channels, programmes and editorial. Houzot responded on X the same evening.

“I regret and firmly condemn the remarks made tonight live during the broadcast of the WTA Finals.”

Houzot added that the comments did not reflect beIN Sports' values and reaffirmed the channel's commitment to respectful treatment of all athletes and guests on air. According to L'Équipe, the journalist was due to meet his management quickly to explain the incident. As of Fanpage's report, Solier had not issued an apology of his own.

Sabalenka and the tournament

Sabalenka had not commented on the incident, according to Fanpage, and remained focused on the tournament. The WTA Finals in Indian Wells run until 15 November. She still faces Mirra Andreeva and Elina Svitolina in the group stage. Interia noted that Sabalenka and Andreeva had each already won their opening matches. Fanpage recalled that Sabalenka lost last year's final to Elena Rybakina and said she has a strong chance to win the title for the first time in her career. Interia described Muchová as this year's Wimbledon finalist, and she lost the opening match in straight sets.

Online spread and rights news

Before midnight Polish time, the Tiempo De Tenis profile posted a clip of a few seconds on social media showing Sabalenka in a promotional spot for the finalists, with the commentator's words audible in the background. Interia reported that the words were spoken in Spanish and translated them as a remark that she looked terrible. On the same Monday, beIN Sports announced that it had acquired the ATP tour's broadcast rights for 2028 to 2031, rights currently held by Eurosport.