GARY Lineker has been pulled by BBC from Match of the Day after his controversial statements about new immigration legislation.
In a statement, the BBC said it has “decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.”
Since Lineker was pulled, fellow presenter and former Arsenal star Ian Wright announced that he would refuse to be on the show on Saturday night. Alan Shearer quickly followed suit.
The BBC has since announced that the show will go on but there will be no hosts.
It comes after Mr Lineker sparked a major backlash this week when he took to Twitter to hit out at the Illegal Migration Bill, which bans migrants who arrive on small boats from ever settling in Britain.
“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the ’30s, and I’m out of order?,” the former Leicester player wrote.
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Disagrees with Lineker
Clarkson continued: All that being said, I disagree with him.
All of the people arriving in Kent have come from France which, last time I looked, is not a war zone.
And many are economic migrants who see the UK as a soft touch.
So there you are. Two differing views.
One from a former footballer and crisp enthusiast and another from a motoring journalist turned farmer. Take your pick.
But remember, whatever you decide, you have to accept that in a free country, you can’t really go around sacking people for expressing an opinion.
Jeremy Clarkson reacts
In a comment piece for The Sun, Clarkson wrote the following.
People have been calling for Gary Lineker to be sacked because he says Britain’s new policy of slamming the door on anyone who arrives in Kent on a small boat reminds him of policies used in 1930s Germany.
Well now look. Gary’s bright and likeable. And he’s entitled to air his views on the matter.
I know the BBC gets its impartiality knickers in a twist every time he says something controversial but he’s a football pundit. Not Huw Edwards.
Mark Chapman ruled out
Mark Chapman has reportedly ruled himself out as the Match of the Day host after fellow pundits pulled out in “solidarity” with Gary Lineker.
Now, football pundit Mark Chapman is thought to have ruled himself out of the race to be the new host.
Chief Sports Reporter at the Daily Mail Matt Hughes said in a tweet: “BBC desperately scrambling to secure a new presenter for Match of the Day, with Alex Scott and Mark Chapman both ruling themselves out following withdrawal of Alan Shearer and Ian Wright as pundits.”
The BBC has since revealed that the show will go ahead, but with no hosts.
MOTD plunged into meltdown
Match of the Day hosts staged a mutiny tonight after the BBC yanked Gary Lineker off air over the Nazi tweet row — plunging the flagship show into chaos.
Ian Wright and Alan Shearer walked out in “solidarity” with Lineker, 62, who had compared the Government’s language around its small boats crackdown to that of 1930s Germany.
The BBC was left scrambling to find a panel for the show, as other stars ruled themselves out.
Inside Gary Lineker’s reaction to suspension
Friends said Lineker had been blindsided by the statement and was being benched against his will.
It left Match of the Day 2 presenter Mark Chapman as favourite to step in.
The Beeb could not say when ex-England ace Lineker will return.
Tonight it appeared there was no way back for the star at the BBC.
He was ordered to issue a “humiliating apology” by execs or face being “rested” from the show.
Jermaine Jenas says he WON’T host
Jermaine Jenas has become the SIXTH pundit to rule himself out of presenting Match of the Day following Gary Lineker’s suspension.
Following an exodus of pundits from Saturday night’s show, Jenas tweeted: “Been on air with the one show.
“I wasn’t down to be doing match of the day tomorrow, but if I was I would of said no and stood with my fellow pundits and
@GaryLineker.”Actor and comedian sends support to Lineker
Famous actor and comedian Julian Clary took to Twitter to add to the support of Gary Lineker after he was suspended for a controversial tweet.
Clary wrote: “Before they ask, no, I won’t go on #MOTD I stand with Gary Lineker. Hit them where it hurts.”
Although Clary would most likely not appear on the show that didn’t stop the comedian from having some fun and showing support.
Former footballer shares his opinion
Former Welsh footballer David Cotterill is not exactly thrilled to see all the support suddenly for Gary Lineker after his controversial tweet.
He wrote: “Everyone now sticking up for Gary Lineker about free speech.”
Cotterill added: “Where was everyone when Matt Le Tissier got sacked from Sky Sports supporting him and his free speech? Might I add he’s been right about everything! I didn’t see no football pundits sticking up for him.”
Sky Sports Reporter comments on situation
Chief Reporter Kaveh Solhekol gave his take on the Gary Lineker debacle on Twitter.
He said: “Gary Lineker suspended by the BBC for upsetting the Conservatives because he stood up for some of the most vulnerable people in the world.”
Solhekol continued: “The same BBC whose chairman gave the Conservatives £400,000 before helping to arrange an £800,000 loan for Boris Johnson.”
Commentators off show too
MOTD commentator Steve Wilson has confirmed that the show’s commentators will also be stepping down from Saturday’s broadcast in solidarity to Gary Lineker.
Wilson wrote on Twitter: “As commentators on MOTD, we have decided to step down from tomorrow night’s broadcast.
“We are comforted that football fans who want to watch their teams should still be able to do so, as management can use World Feed commentary if they wish.”
Piers Morgan slams BBC, continued
Sir David Attenborough has criticised the Government’s environmental record while Lord Sugar urged Brits to back the Tories in 2019.
In a later Tweet, TalkTV’s Piers accused the BBC of being “pathetically spineless” over the decision.
Mr Lineker sparked a free speech row when he compared the Governments plans to ban migrants arriving on small boats from settling in Britain with “1930’s Germany”.
It came as he responded to a video on Twitter of Home Secretary Suella Braverman as she presented the Government’s plan.
Piers Morgan slams BBC
Piers Morgan has blasted the BBC’s “ridiculous” decision to pull Gary Lineker off Match of the Day.
He fumed: “This is a ridiculous decision and if the BBC really believes its presenters shouldn’t have political opinions then I look forward to them suspending David Attenborough…
“And Alan Sugar and everyone else who has presented BBC shows but makes public their opinions.”
Inside Gary Lineker’s Twitter disaster
Lineker took to Twitter to hit out at the Illegal Migration Bill, which bans migrants who arrive on small boats from settling in Britain.
He tweeted: “This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the ’30s, and I’m out of order?”
Since the tweet, Lineker has been suspended from hosting MOTD by BBC with no timetable set for a return.
Mark Chapman’s future with MOTD
Mark Chapman has reportedly ruled himself out as the Match of the Day host after fellow pundits pulled out in “solidarity” with Gary Lineker.
Chief Sports Reporter at the Daily Mail Matt Hughes said in a tweet: “BBC desperately scrambling to secure a new presenter for Match of the Day, with Alex Scott and Mark Chapman both ruling themselves out following withdrawal of Alan Shearer and Ian Wright as pundits.”
Alex Scott confirms future with MOTD
Gary Lineker has been suspended for the time being by the BBC Network and rumors have arisen that Alex Scott could possibly take over.
In a cryptic tweet, the ex-Lioness shared a gif of US politician Bernie Sanders saying: “Nah… not for me.”
There has been no timetable for Lineker’s return to the premiere show as his co-hosts Ian Wright and Alan Shearer are set to boycott tomorrow’s episode.
BBC spokesperson says NO hosts on Saturday’s show
A BBC spokesperson said: “Some of our pundits have said that they don’t wish to appear on the programme while we seek to resolve the situation with Gary.
“We understand their position and we have decided that the programme will focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry.”
MOTD going ahead with NO live hosts
Match of the Day will go ahead tomorrow – but WITHOUT presenters.
The BBC told The Sun the exodus of pundits following Gary Linker’s suspension means they will show only football.
No commentary or analysis will happen on Saturday night’s show.
Possible replacement for MOTD: Gabby Logan
The Welsh presenter is a former international rhythmic gymnast who represented Wales and Great Britain.
She hosted Final Score for BBC Sport from 2009 until 2013.
And she can always be relied upon to step up for duty should the occasion arise.
Possible replacement for MOTD: Manish Bhasin
Another well-known face and a potential candidate for the job.
He is a sports journalist and presenter broadcasting for Premier League Productions as the face of the Premier League’s global coverage to over 700million viewers.
And he also already works for the Beeb too.
Possible replacement for MOTD: Mark Pougatch
The 55-year-old also has huge experience in radio and television broadcasting.
He is currently the Chief Sport Presenter for ITV Sport and fronts their major football and rugby coverage.
He is also the sideline reporter for Stan Sport’s UEFA competition coverage.
Possible replacement for MOTD: Mark Chapman
The much-loved “Chappers” already has huge experience and has performed the role temporarily before.
He also has experience presenting but has hosted Match of the Day 2 on BBC One and Sky Sports’ coverage of the EFL Cup.
Chapman has recently revealed he will not be stepping in to take over as one of the MOTD hosts.
Possible replacement for MOTD: Jermaine Jenas
The 40-year-old former Premier League star regularly works as a pundit and commentator for BBC and BT Sport.
Jenas began co-presenting The One Show on BBC One with Alex Jones and became one of its permanent hosts the following year.
Last year he also performed the role of “Draw Conductor” for the 2022 FIFA World Cup draw.
Jenas recently tweeted about joining MOTD: “Been on air with the one show, I wasn’t down to be doing match of the day tomorrow, but if I was I would have said no and stood with my fellow pundits and
@GaryLineker.”Possible replacement for MOTD: Alex Scott
The former Lionesses star, 38, began her media career while still playing football, appearing on programmes such as Soccer AM and also had other minor roles at BBC Sport, BT Sport, and Sky Sports.
She started co-presenting on Match of the Day Kickabout after retirement and then made history as a pundit at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first female football pundit at a World Cup for the BBC.
In August 2019, Scott was announced as the new co-host of Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday alongside Chris Kamara and has been a regular presenter on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards while she is also a frequent guest presenter on The One Show.
Scott recently broke her silence on the issue and said she won’t step in to host Match of the Day.
Possible replacement for MOTD: James Corden
The Brit currently hosts the hit Late Late Show in America and is also set to stay Stateside to film his CBS chat show until next year before leaving the post following eight years in the job.
Corden has previously presented the sports-based panel show A League of Their Own and is no stranger to football with the star being a huge West Ham supporter.
He was tipped as a contender to replace Lineker last year, with Lineker even tweeting the ‘eyes’ emoji in response to the story.
Possible replacements for Gary Lineker
Since the suspension of Gary Lineker rumours has swirled of a potential new host taking over.
The former England striker hit the headlines after he compared new immigration legislation to 1930s Germany.
BBC added that the suspension will remain in place until an agreement is reached on his social media use – which could potentially mean it is for the long term.
So attention turns to who could replace him in the MOTD hot seat.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
