Online Reporter
SOCCER AID hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alex Scott are locked in a row with event bosses to get out of presenting duties.
The pair are both Arsenal fans and desperately want to be excused to watch the Gunners’ Champions League final.
Dermot has a ticket for the Gunners’ showdown with Paris St Germain, while Arsenal women’s team legend Alex also wants to go to the match.
But they are contracted to work at the charity celebrity football match at the London Stadium.
Dermot, who is also a producer on Soccer Aid, said: “We are in negotiations at the moment. It’s not looking good.
“Ticket is ok. The problem is my contractual obligation to Soccer Aid.
“The Champions League final is the day before – it’s a huge problem for me.”
The Champions League final is on May 30 in Hungary, while the Soccer Aid match is the day after, but Scott and O’Leary’s contracts mean they must take part in rehearsals the day of Arsenal’s huge game.
Asked by Patrick Kielty on Radio 5 Live if he thinks he really needs to do the rehearsals, Dermot said: “I don’t.”
Asked who does need to do them, he replied: “Everyone else involved.”
Dermot added: “Also I’m doing it with Alex Scott, one of the Arsenal greats.
Asked if Alex is going to the final, Dermot said: “No. Right now, we’re in a perilous state of negotiation, put it that way, which I don’t think we’re going to win.
“It’s just people getting nervous understandably about us not getting on said flights and not making it.
“And also they want to rehearse on Saturday, bearing in mind I’m a producer of Soccer Aid.”
But Dermot insisted he wasn’t taking Soccer Aid lightly, adding: “It’s quite a responsibility to be there. I do take it quite seriously – it’s for charity.”
ITV and Soccer Aid were approached for comment – Sun.
