Worlds Athletics Championships: Seb Coe takes aim at BBC and Gabby Logan for criticism of poor crowds in Doha

IAAF President Sebastian Coe has taken aim at Gabby Logan for criticism of poor attendances at the World Athletics Championships (Picture: PA)

Sebastian Coe has hit out at the BBC and presenter Gabby Logan for criticising the poor crowds at the Worlds Athletics Championships in Doha.

The IAAF president said he had a “problem” with how the sport was being portrayed by the broadcaster and singled out Logan for her comments about the crowds in the Khalifa International Stadium.

Poor attendances have been a big talking point at the championships, but Coe said he believes the BBC would be better served talking about the athletics.

“It’s very easy to sit there and make all sorts of Gabby Logan-type judgments over three or four days and clear off back to Match of the Day,” Coe said.

Presenter Gabby Logan during day six of the IAAF World Championships in Doha (PA)

“But it’s really important that we see the long-term development of our sport,” he added.

“That’s not going to be done because we have challenges over ticketing in a stadium for three days.

“The problem I’ve got with that is it’s the way our sport is being portrayed by some of the people in that studio.”

The BBC has not commented but Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker said that Coe was “picking the wrong target in Gabby Logan.”

He tweeted: “She’s just doing her job brilliantly as always.”