It’s not only happening in UK or US as well.
I’m from Lithuania and whenever I want to watch my domestic basketball league or any game broadcasted on our domestic channels I get just spammed with gambling ads, it’s like there’s no other type of ad. It’s gotten to absurd levels in the last few years.
If they announced this along with at least some guidelines of what they would plan to do to improve the refereeing then I would be fine with this.
But just using some managers interviews to crack down on them and clubs for daring to question the refs further screams of protecting the ‘boys club’. That’s what is most frustrating about this.
I would argue that the abuse will actually increase, because clubs and players will feel that referees don’t want to be transparent. This encourages them and fans to think that refs are out to get their respective clubs. Everyone loses at that point.
To exploit the freshness of the situation for ratings/clicks.
Most people in media are heartless bastards that will stoop to ridiculous lows to get ahead.