BBC Sport bosses left 'almost in tears' after staff vented anger and fury on team bonding day

A group of BBC Sport staff from the television arm had travelled the short distance from MediaCity to the museum last week to take part in a series of two-hour “culture cafés”, held over “buddha bowls, crisps and cake” and designed to improve morale and clear the air.

But the session many employees had been anticipating - a Q&A with senior management - quickly spiralled into a bitter exchange.

“It descended into a massive slanging match,” one source told the Daily Mail.

“Person after person lined up to have a pop. I think management were almost in tears by the end of it. This is a department that is at war with itself and that came across loud and clear.”

Insiders say around 15 minutes of the forum were dominated by a stream of complaints, with staff venting frustration that has built up over the past 12 months.

The fiercest criticism centred on the belief that, since the arrival of director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski last June, BBC Sport has “given up” on television-based sports news in order to prioritise digital output and the prized 16–24 demographic.

Concerns extend to the broadcaster’s uncertain footprint at next year’s World Cup.

Some staff believe only a single television news reporter will be sent to the tournament.

BBC management has also opted against establishing a studio in the United States, in stark contrast to rivals ITV.

Instead, high-profile pundits will not be flown out until the latter stages, with the quarter-finals believed to be the earliest point under consideration — though the BBC insists plans remain unconfirmed.

Others believe the corporation’s biggest names may not travel until the semi-finals, leaving them with less than a week on the ground.

The row comes amid a wider shake-up of the BBC’s sports department.

In May, plans to cut 27 roles were announced as part of Kay-Jelski’s restructuring, a move that intensified anxiety among staff working in television.

Some feel they have been placed directly “in the firing line” as the organisation shifts resources and realigns priorities around digital platforms.

But not all employees share that view.

One insider argued that overdue reform had inevitably provoked resistance: “The place needed a rocket up its backside and a lot of those who thought they could coast to retirement are now throwing their toys out of the pram.”

This weekend, the final F1 race of the season will take place in Abu Dhabi.

However, the BBC are reportedly unlikely to send a news reporter to the big event - with coverage instead set to be left to their F1 writer and radio.

Kay-Jelski, however, is said to still retain the support of the majority of his staff despite the simmering tensions behind the scenes.