Kate Scott, Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher have emerged as a dream team for CBS Sports – and changing this would be a decision that the broadcaster would undoubtedly dread. Football enthusiasts eagerly switch on CBS during the week to enjoy the US broadcaster’s Champions League coverage, greeted by the impeccable chemistry of the current panel.
Host Kate Scott excels at steering the team, while also injecting some witty humour at the start of the programmes. Henry’s expertise and dry wit, combined with Richards’ contagious laughter and Carragher’s comical outbursts, make the group an exhilarating watch before, during and after Champions League matches, with UK fans relishing the clips shared on social media.
However, this assembly of football experts could disband within months, given the rumours surrounding contract details, new prospects and shifting priorities due to significant life changes. Here, we has detailed what the worst-case scenario would be for CBS Sports regarding potential changes in their Champions League panel.
Kate Scott
Kate Scott (nee Abdo), now married to former professional boxer and trainer Malik Scott, has been making headlines since the couple went public with their romance in December 2023. They celebrated their wedding in September this year. The intimate Malibu Hills ceremony was a star-studded affair, attended by close friends and family.
The 43-year-old presenter has become an integral part of CBS Sports since joining in 2020, quickly establishing herself as one of the top sports presenters on TV. Her recent signing of a new four-year contract with CBS Sports in 2023 to lead their Champions League coverage alongside football legends Henry, Carragher, and Richards has only solidified her status.
Scott’s exceptional handling of the programme has not gone unnoticed, earning accolades from many within the industry, including Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Following his team’s Champions League victory in 2023, Guardiola expressed his admiration for Scott, declaring CBS’s coverage under her guidance as the “funniest in the Champions League this season”.
Despite her professional success, Scott’s marriage to Malik could raise questions about her future career plans, as she may wish to dedicate more time to her new family. Her contract ends in 2027 – but leaving before a deal is up is no uncommon among TV presenters seeking to explore different paths, both professionally and personally.
Kate Abdo working as a TV broadcaster / presenter for CBS Sports and Paramount alongside pundits, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carraghe (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Thierry Henry – coaching temptation?
Thierry Henry, with his razor-sharp analysis and Champions League expertise, is a titan on the CBS panel. His commitment to the broadcaster has been solidified with a fresh three-year contract, securing his insights until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Yet, Henry’s recent departure from his coaching role with France for “personal reasons” has sparked speculation. Could the allure of managing a top club or national team coax the Arsenal legend away from the studio lights?
His managerial resume already boasts roles at Monaco, Montreal Impact, and with Belgium’s national squad. The temptation of a prominent position in one of Europe’s elite leagues might just be the call that lures Henry back to the touchline.
Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher could be walking a tightrope on CBS Sports. Known for his boisterous style and divisive takes, he’s a vital cog in the show’s dynamic, as continuous harmony among pundits would hardly make for compelling television. Carragher’s forthright approach, especially when dissecting struggling teams or beleaguered managers, marks a stark contrast to his more measured persona on Sky Sports.
But it’s this very frankness that risks landing him in trouble. Last season Carragher immersed himself in the electric atmosphere of Borussia Dortmund’s ‘Yellow Wall’, enjoying pre-match drinks with fans before interviewing Jadon Sancho, looking somewhat dishevelled post-celebration.
Carragher also stirred controversy on air with an uncomfortable quip during a discussion about football team loyalty with Scott and Henry. In March, he challenged Scott, saying: “You are wearing [an Arsenal shirt] next. For the last part, you are going to wear it.”
To which Scott firmly responded: “I am not. I am loyal.” When Carragher probed “to whom?” Scott declared: “Manchester United, thank you very much”, prompting Carragher to jest: “Not to Malik.”
Fans would be devastated to see this power panel break up (Image: Mary Kouw/CBS via Getty Images)
The banter led to an awkward silence, punctuated by Carragher’s laughter. CBS Sports producer Pete Radovich felt compelled to issue a statement to The Athletic to dispel any speculation of unrest among the panel.
Radovich said: “The first thing to say is everyone was surprised at the reaction that night; myself, Kate and Jamie included, because it was just banter gone wrong amongst friends, between a brother and sister. That night, when it started to snowball, we had discussions. It wasn’t alarms or questioning if we were going to be able to repair this. He misspoke. He felt bad. Kate wasn’t crazy about it, but none of it was like, ‘this could be the end’.”
“The biggest reaction was surprise at how much play it got. So, there was never a moment in all of that time where I was like, ‘wow, I don’t know if we can bounce back from this’. Not even for a split second because I knew internally we were all cool. It’s not for me to speak for Kate, but I can only speak to the conversations I had with Kate. She conveyed to me that she wasn’t crazy about the comment, but at the same time, we can get over this.”
Kate Abdo, Carragher and Malik Scott all overcame the awkward moment and the CBS Sports panel remains a tight-knit bunch. But any more gaffes could put a spanner in the works, although there have been no suggestions regarding Carragher’s future at the current time and he remains a firm favourite among the quartet.
Micah Richards
Back in February, during one of her signature introductions, Scott quipped that Richards would “never take a pay cut” at CBS. The moment was captured and shared on the official CBS TikTok account with the caption: “Micah Richards is NEVER taking a pay cut”, complete with a laughing emoji.
In the footage, Richards joked: “You can pay me less CBS, but I want the readies in the front end”, alluding to the hefty signing-on fee Kylian Mbappe is rumoured to have received when he joined Real Madrid on a free transfer. Scott then asked whether Richards had started contract discussions with CBS, as he replied: “No, no, no, no negotiations just yet. I’ve got 18 months left [on my contract].”
According to Richards’ statement, his current contract with CBS should expire around August 2025, suggesting he could be poised to ink a new deal as his colleagues Scott and Henry recently did. Given how much of a man in demand Richards is – with spots on Sky Sports, BBC and Gary Lineker‘s The Rest Is Football podcast alongside his CBS role – the former City man has plenty of irons in the fire – and options – when it comes to his future, whether pay is a factor or not.