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      Gary Lineker will return to Match of the Day in days, BBC confirms as broadcaster apologises for row but host DOESN’T

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      THE BBC apologised today as they confirmed Gary Lineker will return for FA Cup coverage following a row over his inflammatory migrant tweets.The announcement comes amid a wave of fury from Tory MPs over the crisis after the pundit failed to apologise himself.
      Gary Lineker will return to his Match of the Day hosting duties this weekendCredit: BBC
      The pundit, pictured today, has failed to apologise for his commentsCredit: Getty
      Lineker, 62, will return to screens to front Saturday’s FA Cup action after a weekend of chaos saw schedules changed last-minute and a different format for Match of the Day.
      The BBC is now going to review its social media guidelines as Director General Tim Davie apologised for the “difficult period” for staff, presenters and audiences.
      But Lineker’s failure to say sorry himself today has already attracted criticism.
      Tory MP Tom Hunt said: “There has been no apology from Lineker for the grossly offensive remarks he made that would have offended millions of people who are forced to make a contribution to his salary.
      Read more on the row
      “What the BBC say about a social media review all seems rather vague and I fear it will just be a white wash.
      “We can’t allow ‘freelancers’ who are paid millions by the taxpayer and are widely perceived to be BBC employees to act with impunity when it comes to impartiality rules.
      “Even before this there was growing momentum and support from the public for abolishing the licence fee. This will only boost that.”
      Lineker said in a brief statement he is “glad we have found a way forward” and threw his support behind the planned review.
      Most read in Football
      The commentator also broke his Twitter silence to double-down on his remarks after what he branded a “surreal few days”.
      He said he was “delighted to have navigated a way through this” as he thanked his colleagues for their “incredible support” and “remarkable show of solidarity”.
      Lineker said: “I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost 3 decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world.
      “I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday.
      “A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you.”
      Lineker also thanked Mr Davie for his “understanding during this difficult period”.
      He added: “He has an almost impossible job keeping everybody happy, particularly in the area of impartiality. I am delighted that we’ll continue to fight the good fight, together.”
      The BBC Board has welcomed the agreement, saying it is “the right time” to review its social media guidelines and “impartiality is a cornerstone of the BBC”.
      But the decision to review the BBC’s social media guidelines could prove a humiliating own goal for Mr Davie as they were written at his request in 2020 to include the “Lineker Clause”.
      This stated higher-profile presenters had an extra responsibility to avoid taking sides on political issues.
      Mr Davie said today impartiality is “important” to the BBC and the public but admitted there is a “difficult balancing act”.
      He added: “The potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC’s social media guidance that was introduced in 2020 is recognised.
      “I want to get matters resolved and our sport content back on air.”
      A review – supported by Lineker – will be led by an independent expert in due course.
      He will “abide by the editorial guidelines” until that report is complete, Mr Davie confirmed.

      He added: “Gary is a valued part of the BBC and I know how much the BBC means to Gary, and I look forward to him presenting our coverage this coming weekend.”
      The row erupted after Lineker criticised Home Secretary Suella Braverman’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, 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?”
      Lineker was accused by the BBC of breaking their strict impartiality rules that state staff must “avoid taking sides on political controversies” and “take care when addressing public policy matters”.
      The BBC said the pundit’s comments were a “breach of our guidelines”.
      Ms Braverman later said his comments were “offensive”.
      She added: “To kind of throw out those kind of flippant analogies diminishes the unspeakable tragedy that millions of people went through…
      “And I don’t think anything that is happening in the UK today can come close to what happened in the Holocaust.”
      The broadcaster revealed on Friday he had been suspended and would not host Saturday’s Match of the Day – sparking a mutiny among his co-stars.
      Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman and Micah Richards refused to fill in with the football analysis show plunged into crisis.
      Saturday’s night episode later aired with a stripped-back, 20 minute version that did not even feature the iconic theme tune.
      Football Focus, Final Score, the Fighting Talk podcast and 5Live’s 606 football phone in were all canned as schedules were sent spiralling.
      And last night’s Match Of The Day 2 ran for just 14 minutes, again with no commentary or presenters.
      Mr Davie told the BBC on Saturday he would “absolutely not” quit amid the fallout.
      Asked if he was sorry about the way he handled the row, he added: “We made decisions and I made decisions based on a real passion about what the BBC is and it’s difficult.”
      Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waded into the row on Saturday, saying the Lineker’s suspension is “rightly a matter” for the BBC, not him or Government.
      He added that while he respected “not everyone will always agree” with Government policies, he praised the pundit for being a “great footballer and talented presenter”.
      Read More on The Sun
      BBC director general Tim Davie has apologised over the rowCredit: Pixel8000
      The pundit sparked a mutiny when he was suspended by the BBCCredit: LNP
      Lineker has presented Match of the Day since 1999Credit: BBC
      The BBC accused the ex-footballer of breaking impartiality rulesCredit: Alamy More

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      BBC commentator explains ‘difficult decision’ to work during boycott over Gary Lineker’s MOTD axing

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      A BBC commentator has revealed why he opted to work during the Gary Lineker row.Alistair Bruce-Ball led the BBC’s broadcast for Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
      Many BBC employees have boycotted their roles following the Gary Lineker rowCredit: Reuters
      Alistair Bruce-Ball explained his decision to commentate on SundayCredit: Twitter
      It came 24 hours after most of the organisation’s commentators boycotted their roles in a show of support for Lineker.
      The former England striker, 62, was absent from hosting Match of the Day after he criticised the government’s new Illegal Migration Bill and questioned their language around refugees.
      A host of pundits also refused to appear on Match of the Day, before the BBC announced Saturday’s programme would go ahead as a reduced 20-minute broadcast without presenters or pundits.
      Football Focus and Final Score were also scrapped.
      READ MORE ON GARY LINEKER
      Several BBC commentators then returned to their jobs on Sunday, but Bruce-Ball still felt he needed to give an explanation for his decision.
      He said: “I want to reiterate what we said ahead of our football coverage yesterday.
      “I know you’ll all appreciate this is a difficult time for BBC Sport and for all those who work in the department and we hope it all gets resolved as soon as possible.
      “It’s been a very difficult decision to make personally, I can assure you it’s not been taken lightly, but I’m a BBC staff member, I’m a radio commentator for this station and just like yesterday we are here to provide our football service to you, our audience.”
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      Along with Bruce-Ball, Ian Dennis and John Murray also carried out their commentary duties for the BBC over the weekend.
      And pundit Pat Nevin was another BBC employee who defended his decision to work.
      Meanwhile, Lineker is set to return to the BBC for this weekend’s FA Cup coverage.
      And a decision regarding his future as host of Match of the Day is set to be announced on Monday.
      George Lineker, the son of the World Cup golden boot winner, has insisted he expects his dad to return to the BBC show.
      Speaking on Saturday after attending Leicester’s defeat to Chelsea with his father, he told The Mirror: “He’s been at Leicester today and he got a really good reaction – there were banners in support of him in the stadium.
      “When he comes home from the Leicester game my brother is cooking him a cottage pie. Then he’ll probably go to bed and maybe watch the show in the morning, before we go for a Sunday roast.
      “Dad is a good man, a good human, and I’m proud of him for standing by his word. That’s why he was pulled off the show – because he wouldn’t apologise.
      Read More on The Sun
      “But he will always speak up for people who don’t have a voice. He is passionate about helping refugee charities.
      “Will he go back to Match of the Day? I think so – he loves Match of the Day. But he won’t ever back down on his word.” More

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      BBC to make statement on Gary Lineker’s Match of the Day future TODAY after he broke impartiality rules

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      THE BBC will make an announcement on Gary Lineker’s future today following an impartiality row over his inflammatory migrant tweets.Crunch talks are being held after a weekend of chaos saw schedules changed last-minute and a different format for Match Of The Day.
      Gary Lineker will learn his BBC fate todayCredit: Pixel8000
      The Sun revealed today how Lineker, 62, is set to host the BBC’s FA Cup coverage this weekend.
      A statement is expected to be released today confirming the next steps.
      It is believed Lineker will agree to be more careful about what he tweets in the future, while the BBC will likely review its social media guidelines.
      But his potential return could spark a new row between the broadcaster and Tory party if the £1.35million-a-year star fails to apologise.
      Read more on the row
      The mayhem erupted after Lineker criticised Home Secretary Suella Braverman’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, 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.
      Most read in Football
      “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?”
      Lineker was accused by the BBC of breaking their strict impartiality rules that state staff must “avoid taking sides on political controversies” and “take care when addressing public policy matters”.
      The BBC said the pundit’s comments were a “breach of our guidelines”.
      Ms Braverman later branded the controversial remarks as “offensive”.
      She added: “To kind of throw out those kind of flippant analogies diminishes the unspeakable tragedy that millions of people went through…
      “And I don’t think anything that is happening in the UK today can come close to what happened in the Holocaust.”
      The broadcaster revealed on Friday he had been suspended and would not host Saturday’s Match Of The Day – sparking a mutiny among his co-stars.
      Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman and Micah Richards refused to fill in, plunging the football analysis show into crisis.
      Saturday’s night show then aired with a stripped-back, 20 minute version that did not even feature the iconic theme tune.
      Football Focus, Final Score, the Fighting Talk podcast and 5Live’s 606 football phone in were all canned as schedules were sent spiralling.
      And last night’s Match Of The Day 2 ran for just 14 minutes, again with no commentary or presenters.
      Director General Tim Davie told the BBC on Saturday he would “absolutely not” quit amid the fallout.
      Asked if he was sorry about the way he handled the row, he added: “We made decisions and I made decisions based on a real passion about what the BBC is and it’s difficult.”
      But a potential decision to review the BBC’s social media guidelines could prove an own goal for Mr Davie as they were written at his request to include the “Lineker Clause”.
      This stated higher-profile presenters had an extra responsibility to avoid taking sides on political issues.
      Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waded into the row on Saturday, saying the Lineker’s suspension is “rightly a matter” for the BBC, not him or Government.
      He added that while he respected “not everyone will always agree” with Government policies, he praised the pundit for being a “great footballer and talented presenter”.
      Read More on The Sun
      The pundit sparked a mutiny when he was suspended by the BBCCredit: LNP
      Lineker has presented Match Of The Day since 1999Credit: BBC
      The BBC accused the ex-footballer of breaking impartiality rulesCredit: Alamy More

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      Ex-Chelsea star Pat Nevin defends decision to appear on BBC 5 Live after Gary Lineker’s MOTD axing

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      PAT NEVIN has defended his decision to appear on BBC Radio 5 Live yesterday after Gary Lineker’s Match of the Day axing.The Beeb’s sports coverage was decimated over the weekend, as pundits, presenters and commentators backed Lineker in his row with the corporation.
      Pat Nevin appeared on BBC 5 Live yesterdayCredit: Getty
      Gary Lineker was suspended by the BBC last weekCredit: PA
      Match of the Day ran for just 20 minutes on Saturday night without commentary, a host, studio analysis or even its iconic theme tune.
      This came after Football Focus, Final Score and much of BBC Radio 5 Live’s coverage had been cancelled earlier in the day.
      Some normality was restored yesterday, with Newcastle’s win over Wolves being broadcast on BBC 5 Live.
      Commentator John Murray described the situation as having caused “an extremely difficult and challenging weekend for all of us”.
      READ MORE ON GARY LINEKER
      Pundit Nevin, 59, said: “Freedom of speech means you get to speak.
      “That’s why I went on Stephen Nolan last night, World Service this morning. I don’t engage in social media so this is the platform we have to start speaking on and get through this.
      “There’s a dichotomy between free speech for us and due impartiality of the BBC, we know that. It’s where you draw the lines, and that line’s been far too blurred for the staff and the public.
      “We need clarification, contracts must be clearer, it’s unfair on everyone – from Gary Lineker to every match reporter.
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      “There must be a debate, there must be consultation, not just edicts from on high.
      “It’s madness that I can be asked to go on a BBC political programme, yet I’m not allowed to have an opinion out with that. It doesn’t make sense.”
      On how the BBC can proceed, former Chelsea star Nevin added: “I happen to stand on roughly the same hill as Gary Lineker, but we have to understand that if we have stringent opinions and other alternative – and indeed opposite – opinions, they would have to be allowed.
      “That is not easy for an impartial organisation like the BBC to cope with. I’m going to talk about this for a long time to come, we’ve got to debate it – the future and direction of this organisation, possibly under threat institution, could depend on this.
      “It’s about getting on and getting it right from hereon in. I could go on, I won’t, we’ve got a game of football here to talk about.”
      Lineker, 62, was pulled from hosting duties following his tweet likening Suella Braverman’s language while unveiling the Government’s small boats plan to that of 1930s Germany.
      He is set to return to presenting duties for the BBC’s live televised FA Cup quarter-finals at the weekend after striking a deal with his employers yesterday.
      The Beeb are set to show Manchester City vs Burnley next Saturday and Brighton vs Grimsby on Sunday afternoon.
      A further update on his Match of the Day role is set to be announced today. More

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      Gary Lineker WILL be back on the BBC for next weekend’s FA cup coverage after a deal was struck in tense crisis talks

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      GARY Lineker will front the BBC’s FA Cup coverage next Saturday after the under fire host struck a deal with the BBC today.The agreement will be announced tomorrow after tense talks, following a weekend of TV mayhem caused by the Nazi tweets row.
      Gary Lineker will return to host the BBC’s FA Cup coverage next weekendCredit: BBC
      Gary Lineker was seen walking his dog today amid the ongoing rowCredit: Reuters
      Director General Tim Davie has been under massive pressure to find a solutionCredit: AFP
      MPs and pals of Lineker will pore over the details to see who has backed down.
      It risks a potentially explosive new row between the BBC and the Tory party if the star presenter has neither apologised or agreed to abide by impartiality rules in the future.
      Director General Tim Davie has been under massive pressure to find a solution after schedules were hammered both yesterday and today.
      A TV source said: “Gary will be back to host the BBC’s FA Cup coverage. A deal has been struck.
      Read More on this story
      “If the BBC have agreed to allow him to keep tweeting his anti-Tory views, it will be seen as a major victory for Gary, but the details of the deal are unclear at this stage.”
      Next weekend’s FA Cup quarter final coverage includes Manchester City against Burnley on Saturday and Man U vs Fulham on Sunday.
      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.
      Most read in Football
      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?”
      The BBC said the pundit’s comments on Twitter were a “breach of our guidelines”.
      Ms Braverman later said his comments were “offensive”.
      She added: “To kind of throw out those kind of flippant analogies diminishes the unspeakable tragedy that millions of people went through…
      “And I don’t think anything that is happening in the UK today can come close to what happened in the Holocaust.”
      Match Of The Day ran for just 20 minutes last night – without commentary or even the iconic theme tune – as the crisis-hit BBC struggled to get the flagship highlights show on-air.
      Football Focus, Final Score, the Fighting Talk podcast and 5Live’s 606 football phone in were all canned yesterday as the staff uprising sent schedules into meltdown.
      And tonight’s Match Of The Day 2 will run for just 14 minutes, again with no commentary or presenters.
      Mr Davie told the BBC on Saturday he would “absolutely not” quit amid a fallout that has bought the corporation to its knees.
      He described the unfolding disaster as a “difficult day” and apologised for the disruption to BBC sports programming.
      Asked if he was sorry about the way he handled the furore, Mr Davie told the BBC on Saturday: “We made decisions and I made decisions based on a real passion about what the BBC is and it’s difficult.”
      He insisted the row is about impartiality.
      Gary’s tweets were said to break the BBC’s strict impartiality rules which state that staff must “avoid taking sides on political controversies” and “take care when addressing public policy matters”.
      RISHI’S RESPONSE
      It comes as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pleaded for some “perspective” following the Lineker row.
      Mr Sunak warned the BBC is “not about one person” as Corporation bosses scrambled to find a solution to the impartiality row with their highest paid star.
      Speaking to reporters on his way to California, the PM said on Sunday the crisis was for not for the Government to step into but for “them to sort out, between Gary Lineker, the BBC and their presenters.”
      He added: “I think the issue between Gary Lineker and the BBC is one they should resolve.
      “I hope they can resolve it in a timely fashion.”
      Meanwhile The Sun’s Trevor Kavanagh said the row has dealt a killer blow to Lineker’s own beloved BBC.
      The columnist blasted the corporation as being “colonised by the Guardian-reading liberal elite” for whom “the trigger word ‘Tory’ sends them groping for the garlic and crucifix”.
      Read More on The Sun
      And he suggested “Lineker must know he is out of order” following the inflammatory tweets.
      Tory Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson later fumed: “MOTD is old ex footballers ripping off the public by chatting nonsense instead of showing more football.” More

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      talkSPORT commentator unhappy with BBC for using his commentary during Chelsea vs Man Utd clash

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      A COMMENTATOR has said he wished the BBC had not used his commentary over their Women’s Super League coverage as the Gary Lineker row rolls on.

      talkSPORT‘s Nigel Adderley was working for the FA world feed as the Beeb scrambled for replacements to work on Chelsea v Manchester United.

      Nigel Adderley has made clear where he stands in the BBC’s civil war

      Presenters, pundits and commentators have withdrawn their services in solidarity after Lineker was suspended for controversial criticism of the Government’s migration policy.

      It left BBC Radio 5 Live stripped of its usual Saturday coverage, Football Focus and Final Score pulled off the air and a strange, shortened Match of the Day with no studio presentation.

      The BBC narrowly avoided a live 90 minute game without commentary as they were able to get world feed commentary for the match at Kingsmeadow.

      But Adderley revealed he agreed with his colleagues’ protests.

      He said on Twitter: “To be clear, I was commentating on Chelsea v Man U for the FA’s World Feed coverage.

      “I wasn’t booked by the BBC and I won’t be paid by them. In all honesty, I would rather they hadn’t taken it but they were entitled to.

      “I entirely support the stance of other colleagues from MOTD.”

      The game finished 1-0 to Chelsea after Sam Kerr’s winner, putting the Blues three points clear at the top in the WSL’s fascinating four-way title tussle.

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      And the game began on an awkward note as a technical glitch left viewers with no commentary at the beginning of the match.

      Adderley’s stance reflects the broadcasting community’s continuing backing of Lineker, with Match of the Day 2 also to have a reduced format on Sunday night.

      The extraordinary standoff could come to an end sooner rather than later with Lineker reportedly in talks with BBC boss Tim Davie over getting him back on air for Saturday’s live FA Cup coverage.

      Meanwhile, Lineker allies and MOTD pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer were back on the telly today for Premier League TV. More

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      Gary Lineker set to return to Match Of The Day for FA Cup next week after crunch talks with the BBC over Nazi tweet row

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      GARY Lineker is set to return to Match Of The Day for the FA Cup next week after crunch talks with the BBC over the Nazi tweet row. The 62-year-old pundit refused to address the ongoing row over his inflammatory posts comparing the government’s new Illegal Migration Bill to 1930s Nazi Germany, which saw him taken off air.
      Gary Lineker is likely to return to the BBC in a matter of days, sources sayCredit: LNP
      Lineker has been in crunch talks with his employer over Nazi tweetsCredit: BBC
      The 62-year-old has today refused to say anything on the matterCredit: Getty
      At around 12.30pm today, he was spotted walking his dog outside his home in West London.
      Asked whether he still wanted to work at the Beeb or if he was in talks with the director general about his future, the ex-England star simply stated: “I can’t say anything.”
      But, just hours later it was said he was likely to return to TV in a matter of days – with sources saying BBC boss Tim Davie wants Lineker back on the telly.
      An insider told the Telegraph: “Tim Davie has been clear that he wants to resolve the situation and see the MOTD presenter back on air.
      Read more on Gary Lineker
      “Gary and his representatives have been in talks for a number of days and these are ongoing.”
      Lineker was told to step back from hosting Match Of The Day while bosses try to get him to agree to stop posting political messages online.
      His likening of Tory immigration rhetoric and Nazi Germany sparked outrage in some quarters – with Home Secretary Suella Braverman claiming his comments diminished the tragedy of the Holocaust.
      It was said to break the BBC’s strict impartiality rules which state that staff must “avoid taking sides on political controversies” and “take care when addressing public policy matters”.
      Most read in Football
      BBC pundits and commentators refused to work following the backlash, deciding to support longstanding presenter Lineker.
      It caused a football blackout, with several TV and radio programmes, including the Saturday edition of Match of the Day, Football Focus and Final Score, disrupted or forced off air following a boycott by figures like Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and Alex Scott.
      Sunday night’s edition of MOTD2 will air – but without presenters or commentary.
      The Beeb does not have the rights required to use world feed commentary, an issue that saw last night’s 20-minute broadcast go without.
      Commentator Guy Mowbray tweeted: “As yesterday, there will be no ‘normal’ MOTD(2) programme tonight.
      “The scheduled commentary team are in full agreement with our BBC Sport colleagues. We hope that a resolution can be found ASAP.”
      Tonight’s programme will show only highlights of Manchester United vs Southampton, West Ham vs Aston Villa and Fulham vs Arsenal and Newcastle vs Wolves.
      There was also no pre-game chat before this afternoon’s Women’s Super League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United amid the storm.
      It follows several last-minute timetable changes yesterday which resulted in Football Focus and Final Score being scrapped from the BBC One schedule.
      MOTD, which Lineker has hosted for almost 25 years, was cut to just 20 minutes, with no commentary, analysis or interviews.
      It also went out without its famous theme tune – instead broadcasting only short highlight clips of the day’s matches.
      It did, however, see its viewing figures soar by 500,000 to 2.6million – the highest number since November 2022.
      MOT2 will take a similar “reduced” format at 10:30pm after host Mark Chapman decided not to present for BBC Radio 5 Live Sport on Saturday and pundit Jermain Defoe announced he would not appear on the Sunday highlights programme.
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      BBC Radio 5 Live was yesterday forced to cancel its coverage of Saturday’s football after Chapman, 59, and co-presenter Colin Murray, 46, pulled out in support of Lineker.
      It followed similar boycotts from other high-profile names, includingKelly Somers and Jason Mohammad, who stood down in solidarity with Lineker.
      The BBC said it would air only “limited sport programming” over the weekend and was “working hard to resolve the situation”.
      In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We are sorry for these changes which we recognise will be disappointing for BBC sport fans.”
      BBC’s Davie later apologised personally for the disruption to the sport schedule but insisted he will not resign from his role.
      On Saturday, Bargain Hunt aired in place of Football Focus on BBC One at noon, while The Repair Shop ran instead of Final Score at 4.30pm.
      BBC presenter Murray tweeted that 5 Live’s Fighting Talk was not airing “for obvious reasons” in a decision by the entire team.
      Pre-recorded content replaced the live broadcasts, with Kammy & Ben’s Proper Football Podcast aired during Fighting Talk’s slot followed by The Footballer’s Football Podcast, which played on Radio 5 Live when 5 Live Sport would have aired.
      The 606 phone-in show with Robbie Savage and Chris Sutton was also pulled, replaced by a Eurovision podcast.
      Pundit Glenn Murray pulled out of appearing on Football Focus and Final Score on Saturday while fellow former players Dion Dublin and Leon Osman were among those announcing their absence from coverage.
      Mohammad also confirmed he would not be hosting Final Score.
      ‘VERY DIFFICULT DAY’
      On Friday evening, several MOTD commentators shared a joint statement online, announcing they would be stepping down from Saturday’s broadcast.
      The group, including Steve Wilson, Conor McNamara, Robyn Cowen and Steven Wyeth, said they did “not feel it would be appropriate to take part in the programme” given the current circumstances.
      Ian Dennis, a BBC employee, did cover Leeds against Brighton for 5 Live radio but said it was a “very difficult day”.
      Lineker was taken off air for a tweet which compared the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy tackling evil people traffickers with Nazi Germany.
      The broadcaster said it had “decided” Lineker would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media had been reached.
      Former BBC director-general Greg Dyke said the corporation had made a “mistake” and “undermined its own credibility” by taking Lineker off air.
      A spokesman for the Professional Footballers’ Association said in a statement on Twitter that it had “been informed that players involved in Saturday’s games will not be asked to participate in interviews with Match Of The Day”.
      I disagree with Gary Lineker on small boats profoundly.Jeremy HuntChancellor
      PM Rishi Sunak said he hopes the free speech row ends “in a timely manner”- but that it was a matter for the BBC, not Government.
      Conservative politicians have lined up to slam Mr Lineker, who is on a taxpayer-funded salary of £1,350,000.
      Jeremy Hunt today said he “profoundly disagrees” with the controversial comments made.
      The Chancellor told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News: “I disagree with Gary Lineker on small boats profoundly.
      “I personally think that he was wrong to say what he said.”
      MP Simon Clarke echoed his words, telling the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “I disagree very profoundly with what Gary Lineker said.
      “I think the comparisons to 1930s as he’s made are deeply inappropriate and actually very tasteless.”
      Asked why it matters what a sports presenter says, he replied: “Mr Lineker has a huge reach and the reality is that he is obviously operating on a publicly-funded broadcaster, he is someone whose platform largely derives from his role at the BBC, he’s saying things which are partisan and I think which are also deeply unfair.”
      ‘TASTELESS TWEET’
      He called the situation a “mess” and said the BBC needs to resolve “ambiguity” in its guidelines as Lineker is freelance a sports presenter, not a political journalist.
      Mr Clarke continued: “I don’t like cancel culture of any kind, I don’t like to see people being taken off air.”
      Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer also waded into the row, saying: “The BBC has a 10-point plan in relation to impartiality.
      “It is absolutely important that it maintains impartiality so that the public retains trust in it.”
      In the Commons, DUP MP Gregory Campbell called for “multimillionaire lefty Lineker” to have his pay docked.
      And Red Wall MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said: “Whilst the elderly lost their free licence, the BBC have now given Gary Lineker a different sort of free license – one that allows him to say what he wants, when he wants and without fear of sanction.
      “Everybody is entitled to their opinions, but as a public service broadcaster you would expect the BBC to hold him to the same standards they would expect from other members of their staff, who would not get away with such appalling comparisons.”
      The Illegal Migration Bill bans migrants who arrive on small boats from ever settling in Britain.
      Read More on The Sun
      The legislation will see migrants swiftly detained and removed to either their country of origin or a safe third state within 28 days.
      Ms Braverman has repeatedly insisted the plan does not break the law, and said the country’s top legal minds have worked day and night to ensure it’s feasible.
      There was no pre-game chat as Chelsea took on Manchester United in WSL todayCredit: Getty

      Alex Scott was one of the many BBC pundits and commentators who backed Lineker amid the stormCredit: Getty More

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      Gary Lineker remains tight-lipped as he steps out amid war with BBC over Nazi immigration tweet as MotD2 to air tonight

      by

      GARY Lineker today remained tight-lipped amid his impartiality war with the BBC. The 62-year-old pundit refused to address the ongoing row over his inflammatory tweets comparing the government’s new Illegal Migration Bill to 1930s Nazi Germany, which saw him taken off air.
      Gary Lineker stayed tight-lipped as he left his home todayCredit: LNP
      Mark Chapman, who is the regular presenter of Match of the Day 2Credit: PA
      There was no pre-game chat as Chelsea took on Manchester United in WSL todayCredit: Getty
      At around 12.30pm on Sunday, he was spotted walking his dog outside his home in Barnes, West London.
      Asked whether he still wanted to work at the Beeb or if he was in talks with the director general about his future, the ex-England star simply stated: “I can’t say anything.”
      Lineker was told to step back from hosting Match of the Day while bosses try to get him to agree to stop posting political messages online.
      His likening of Tory immigration rhetoric and Nazi Germany sparked outrage in some quarters – with Home Secretary Suella Braverman claiming his comments diminished the tragedy of the Holocaust.
      READ MORE ON THE LINEKER ROW
      It was said to break the BBC’s strict impartiality rules which state that staff must “avoid taking sides on political controversies” and “take care when addressing public policy matters”.
      BBC pundits and commentators refused to work following the backlash, deciding to support longstanding presenter Lineker.
      It caused a football blackout, with several TV and radio programmes, including the Saturday edition of Match of the Day, Football Focus and Final Score, disrupted or forced off air following a boycott by figures like Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and Alex Scott.
      Sunday night’s edition of MOTD2 will air – but without presenters or commentary.
      Most read in Football
      The Beeb does not have the rights required to use world feed commentary, an issue that saw last night’s 20-minute broadcast go without.
      Commentator Guy Mowbray tweeted: “As yesterday, there will be no ‘normal’ MOTD(2) programme tonight.
      “The scheduled commentary team are in full agreement with our BBC Sport colleagues. We hope that a resolution can be found ASAP.”
      Tonight’s programme will show only highlights of Manchester United vs Southampton, West Ham vs Aston Villa and Fulham vs Arsenal and Newcastle vs Wolves.
      There was also no pre-game chat before this afternoon’s Women’s Super League clash between Chelsea and Manchester United amid the storm.
      It follows several last minute timetable changes yesterday which resulted in Football Focus and Final Score being scrapped from the BBC One schedule.
      MOTD, which Lineker has hosted for almost 25 years, was cut to just 20 minutes, with no commentary, analysis or interviews.
      It also went out without its famous theme tune – instead broadcasting only short highlight clips of the day’s matches.
      It did, however, see its viewing figures soar by 500,000 to 2.6million – the highest number since November 2022.
      MOT2 will take a similar “reduced” format at 10:30pm after host Mark Chapman decided not to present for BBC Radio 5 Live Sport on Saturday and pundit Jermain Defoe announced he would not appear on the Sunday highlights programme.
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      BBC Radio 5 Live was yesterday forced to cancel its coverage of Saturday’s football after Chapman, 59, and co-presenter Colin Murray, 46, pulled out in support of Lineker.
      It followed similar boycotts from other high-profile names, includingKelly Somers and Jason Mohammad, who stood down in solidarity with Lineker.
      The BBC said it would air only “limited sport programming” over the weekend and was “working hard to resolve the situation”.
      In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We are sorry for these changes which we recognise will be disappointing for BBC sport fans.”
      BBC director-general Tim Davie later apologised personally for the disruption to the sport schedule but insisted he will not resign from his role.
      On Saturday, Bargain Hunt aired in place of Football Focus on BBC One at noon, while The Repair Shop ran instead of Final Score at 4.30pm.
      BBC presenter Murray tweeted that 5 Live’s Fighting Talk was not airing “for obvious reasons” in a decision by the entire team.
      Pre-recorded content replaced the live broadcasts, with Kammy & Ben’s Proper Football Podcast aired during Fighting Talk’s slot followed by The Footballer’s Football Podcast, which played on Radio 5 Live when 5 Live Sport would have aired.
      The 606 phone-in show with Robbie Savage and Chris Sutton was also pulled, replaced by a Eurovision podcast.
      Pundit Glenn Murray pulled out of appearing on Football Focus and Final Score on Saturday while fellow former players Dion Dublin and Leon Osman were among those announcing their absence from coverage.
      Mohammad also confirmed he would not be hosting Final Score.
      ‘VERY DIFFICULT DAY’
      On Friday evening, several MOTD commentators shared a joint statement online, announcing they would be stepping down from Saturday’s broadcast.
      The group, including Steve Wilson, Conor McNamara, Robyn Cowen and Steven Wyeth, said they did “not feel it would be appropriate to take part in the programme” given the current circumstances.
      Ian Dennis, a BBC employee, did cover Leeds against Brighton for 5 Live radio but said it was a “very difficult day”.
      Lineker was taken off air for a tweet which compared the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy tackling evil people traffickers with Nazi Germany.
      The broadcaster said it had “decided” Lineker would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media had been reached.
      Former BBC director-general Greg Dyke said the corporation had made a “mistake” and “undermined its own credibility” by taking Lineker off air.
      A spokesman for the Professional Footballers’ Association said in a statement on Twitter that it had “been informed that players involved in Saturday’s games will not be asked to participate in interviews with Match Of The Day”.
      I disagree with Gary Lineker on small boats profoundly.Jeremy HuntChancellor
      PM Rishi Sunak said he hopes the free speech row ends “in a timely manner”- but that it was a matter for the BBC, not Government.
      Conservative politicians have lined up to slam Mr Lineker, who is on a taxpayer-funded salary of £1,350,000.
      Jeremy Hunt today said he “profoundly disagrees” with the controversial comments made.
      The Chancellor told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News: “I disagree with Gary Lineker on small boats profoundly.
      “I personally think that he was wrong to say what he said.”
      MP Simon Clarke echoed his words, telling the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “I disagree very profoundly with what Gary Lineker said.
      “I think the comparisons to 1930s as he’s made are deeply inappropriate and actually very tasteless.”
      Asked why it matters what a sports presenter says, he replied: “Mr Lineker has a huge reach and the reality is that he is obviously operating on a publicly-funded broadcaster, he is someone whose platform largely derives from his role at the BBC, he’s saying things which are partisan and I think which are also deeply unfair.”
      ‘TASTELESS TWEET’
      He called the situation a “mess” and said the BBC needs to resolve “ambiguity” in its guidelines as Lineker is freelance a sports presenter, not a political journalist.
      Mr Clarke continued: “I don’t like cancel culture of any kind, I don’t like to see people being taken off air.”
      Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer also waded into the row, saying: “The BBC has a 10-point plan in relation to impartiality.
      “It is absolutely important that it maintains impartiality so that the public retains trust in it.”
      In the Commons, DUP MP Gregory Campbell called for “multimillionaire lefty Lineker” to have his pay docked.
      And Red Wall MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said: “Whilst the elderly lost their free licence, the BBC have now given Gary Lineker a different sort of free license – one that allows him to say what he wants, when he wants and without fear of sanction.
      “Everybody is entitled to their opinions, but as a public service broadcaster you would expect the BBC to hold him to the same standards they would expect from other members of their staff, who would not get away with such appalling comparisons.”
      The Illegal Migration Bill bans migrants who arrive on small boats from ever settling in Britain.
      Read More on The Sun
      The legislation will see migrants swiftly detained and removed to either their country of origin or a safe third state within 28 days.
      Ms Braverman has repeatedly insisted the plan does not break the law, and said the country’s top legal minds have worked day and night to ensure it’s feasible.

      Alex Scott also packed Lineker amid the stormCredit: Getty
      Pundit Jermain Defoe has given Lineker his supportCredit: Getty
      Lineker on Match of the DayCredit: BBC More