THE BBC’s crisis-engulfed director general says he will “absolutely not” resign over the fallout of Gary Lineker’s suspension from Match Of The Day.
Mr Lineker, 62, was pulled off the flagship footie show on Friday after comparing the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill to “1930s Germany”.
The free speech row triggered a mass walk out of presenters – plunging Match Of The Day into chaos and Football Focus being pulled off air.
But despite the carnage engulfing the taxpayer funded corporation, the Beeb’s defiant director general Tim Davie said he’s going nowhere.
Describing the unfolding disaster as a “difficult day” he apologised for the disruption to BBC sports programming.
He told the BBC on Saturday: “I’m sorry audiences have been affected and they haven’t got the programming.
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“As a keen sports fan I know to miss programming is a real blow and I’m sorry about that.
“We are working very hard to resolve this situation and make sure we get output on air.”
He insisted the row is about impartiality.
And asked if he was sorry about the way he handled it, he said: “We made decisions and I made decisions based on a real passion about what the BBC is and it’s difficult.
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“It’s this balance between free speech and impartiality.
“I honestly do not believe, despite a lot of the commentary, that this is about left or right – it’s about our ability.
“We’re fierce champions of democratic debate, free speech, but with that comes the need to create an impartial organisation.”
On impartiality, Mr Davie added: “We should be fighting for this in this world, calmly, rationally fighting for a BBC that really actually champions free speech.”
He did not confirm whether he had spoken to Mr Lineker in last 24 hours.
But he said: “Everyone wants to calmly resolve the situation.
“Gary Lineker’s the best in the business – that’s not for debate.”
As his employer battled fires on all fronts – Mr Lineker today took time out to watch his beloved Leicester City in action at the King Power Stadium against Chelsea.
The ex-England star was pictured watching the Foxes alongside one of his sons – and appeared all smiles despite his side losing 3-1.
TWITTER ROW
The row was triggered when the veteran broadcaster responded to a video on Twitter of Home Secretary Suella Braverman as she presented the Government’s small boats plan.
The legislation will see migrants swiftly detained and removed to either their country of origin or a safe third state within 28 days.
Sharing the clip, Mr Lineker said: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”
Responding to another user who described him as “out of order”, he added: “We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.
“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?”
In a statement after suspending Mr Lineker, the BBC outlined they had undergone “extensive discussions” with the ex-England star, 62, following the furore.
While the Beeb praised his sports coverage as “second to none” they said he should “keep well away from taking sides” on party political topics.
Match Of The Day ran for just 20-minutes tonight as the carnage-engulfed BBC limped to get the show on-air.
The flagship footie programme didn’t even play it’s iconic theme tune to kick-off the show and an announcer apologised for the slimmed down offering.
Viewers were left speechless as highlights of today’s games were shown with crowd noises but no commentary.
And there were no presenters or pundits in the studio after staff walked out in a growing mutiny following Gary Lineker’s suspension.
It came as co-hosts Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman and Micah Richards refused to fill in, plunging the football analysis show into crisis.
Match Of The Day – which usually runs for 80-minutes – started at the usual time of 10.20pm but only showed Prem match highlights.
As the show began, an announcer said: “We’re sorry that we’re unable to show our normal Match Of The Day including commentary tonight.
“But here now is the best action from today’s Premier League matches.”
The show ended with a jingle as the Premier League table standings were shown before abruptly ending.
BBC One then showed Tom Hanks drama Sully about the Hudson River plane landing.
The crisis reached its peak late on Saturday when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waded into the row saying the presenter’s suspension is an issue for the BBC, not him.
Mr Sunak said the free speech row was “rightly a matter” for the BBC, not the Government.
He added that while he respected “not everyone will always agree” with Government policies, he praised Mr Lineker for being a “great footballer and talented presenter”.
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It came as an ad of talkSport’s Alan Brazil appeared outside the crisis-ravaged headquarters of the BBC on Saturday.
The rival broadcaster told the BBC in a tongue-in-cheek stunt: “Here comes the super sub. Alan Brazil is ready to step in.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
