Euro 2025: ITV audio descriptive commentary of England win monumental for visually impaired fans
Euro 2025 has been one memorable tournament. From world-class goals, unforgettable saves, nail-biting extra time matches, dramatic penalty shootouts and teams making history, it’s something football fans will never forget.
England became history makers when they retained their title in an incredible penalty shootout over Spain. It’s the first time an England team have won a major trophy on foreign soil. The result speaks for itself.
As a blind fan, there’s one added reason it’ll be even more memorable for me. The cherry on the cake, if you will. That’s thanks to ITV’s audio description.
ITV, in partnership with Guinness, brought live audio descriptive commentary to its coverage of matches during the 2025 Women’s Euros.
What is audio descriptive commentary?
Audio description is additional commentary that explains what’s happening on screen, making it accessible to blind and visually impaired fans.
In terms of football, audio descriptive commentary describes every pass, the exact placement of the ball, body language of the players, and every single detail that’s relayed visually. That’s from the first whistle to the last.
Experiencing it at a match is such a wonderful feeling. Yet, having it available on a mainstream broadcaster is such a massive win for the accessibility of women’s football.
Putting ITV’s audio descriptive commentary to the test
The service was available during ITV’s coverage of all England and Wales matches throughout the tournament. From the very first match, the commentary far surpassed that of traditional commentary.
Every pass, every movement, exact placement of the ball and every single key detail was relayed back to me audibly. Everything that was happening visually was described to blind and visually impaired fans in such detail. Not forgetting the extra touches like the colours of the kits, body language from the players and managers, their facial expressions and so much more.
Put simply, it’s completely changed the game for me, as a blind Lionesses fan.
Audio description making the winning moment even more memorable
The audio descriptive commentary has really come into its own throughout the tournament. No better moment than the final.
I was told of the atmosphere in the stands, the body language of the managers, including their outfits, the happiness or nerves on players’ faces, crucial saves by the goalkeepers, key blocks, and every pass, cross, and each ball into the box. It did nothing to ease my nerves!
Mariona Caldenty’s header into the net might have been painful for England fans, but even that couldn’t wipe the smile from my face of having that information relayed back to me in realtime.
And Chloe Kelly’s whipped cross picked out Alessia Russo, who headed the ball into the far corner to make it 1-1, that’s when I knew this was the definition of inclusion.
It really came into its own in the penalty shootout. I was already on the edge of my seat, but having Beth Mead’s penalty retake, Hannah Hampton’s moment-defining saves and Kelly’s history-making spot kick was described to me without missing a beat, was a feeling of joy like no other.
If that wasn’t enough, I had the trophy lift relayed to me in the most intricate detail — from players embracing, every cheer, kiss of the trophy and celebration. The best part though, was the iconic trophy lift by Leah Williamson. That’s something I’ll never forget.
Sitting on my sofa, watching with my family and knowing that I was having the same experiences as sighted fans, was a moment of true inclusion and pure joy. A moment that filled me with pride. I allowed the tears to flow, because it meant everything. I’ve never had an experience like that before.
It’s something you can’t put into words. One of those moments that felt extremely special.
The Lionesses have made history, Hampton has given us that all-important disability representation on and off the pitch, and ITV have provided blind and visually impaired fans with pure magic. Magic that will stay with me.
Thank you, Lionesses. Thank you, ITV. This is history. This is inclusion.
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Amazon renews UEFA Women’s Football partnership until 2030Chloe Kelly: Shadows to silverware, an Arsenal season that changed everythingHannah Hampton: Defying the odds to become England’s hero