Panned Panorama expose outscores El Clasico
The BBC's controversial Panorama investigation into football's governing body FIFA was watched by an average audience of 2.85m last night.
At the same time the El Clasico clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid, shown on Sky Sports 1, peaked at one million viewers just as Panorama was getting underway at 8.30pm.
The BBC has come in for heavy criticism today for the timing of its FIFA expose, which was broadcast four days before FIFA members vote on whether England will host the 2018 World Cup.
The Sun reported that the BBC was being accused of "sabotaging" England's World Cup bid while the FA described the allegations as "an embarrassment to the BBC".
Clive Edwards, executive editor at the BBC, said it was Panorama's job "to investigate corruption and wrongdoing".