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GARY Lineker “wept” when he found out his pals had publicly backed him after the BBC took him off air.It comes as Match of the Day hosts staged a mutiny tonight following the decision to axe Lineker from the show.
It comes as Match of the Day hosts staged a mutiny following the decision to axe Lineker from the show
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.
Gary was reportedly left in tears when told how his mates had publicly backed him. 
A source said: “This has been a tumultuous 24 hours. Gary is in shock and had no idea this was coming. He wanted to go on air, make no bones about it, this was not his decision.
“Privately, everyone at the Beeb is in meltdown too. They genuinely don’t know how they will get a show out because no one wants to touch it.
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“Everyone in the industry is appalled at how Gary has been hung out to dry, and the general BBC inconsistency. 
Gary wept when he found out his mates had all publicly backed him.
“The support has been overwhelming which, essentially, is a massive pie in the face for the BBC. 
“Gary wasn’t willing to pretend to support something he vehemently doesn’t agree with.
“He doesn’t need the cash and, frankly, it seems hard to imagine a way back for either party from here.”
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The BBC was left scrambling to find a panel for the show, as other stars ruled themselves out.
It comes as the corporation claimed its £1.3million-a-year star had agreed to step back from presenting tonight’s flagship highlights show.
He was ordered to issue a “humiliating apology” by execs or face being “rested” from the show. 
The ex-striker had compared language around the Government’s small boats crackdown to that used by 1930s Germany.
The BBC initially said Lineker would be spoken to, then appeared to take no action against him. 
That triggered a backlash from Tory MPs furious about a perceived breach of BBC impartiality rules.
Yesterday afternoon, the BBC issued its botched statement stating Lineker had stepped back from presenting MoTD.
Pal Wright then tweeted that he will step away, saying: “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity.” 
Shearer soon followed, saying: “I have informed the BBC I wont be appearing on MoTD.”
And Football Focus host Alex Scott appeared to rule herself out, posting a meme which read “Nah, not me”.
Others to join the mutiny include Mark Chapman and Jermaine Jenas.
Footie pundit Micah Richards also backed Ian Wright and Alan Shearer after the Match of the Day hosts pulled out in “solidarity” with Gary Lineker.
Piers Morgan said of the Beeb last night: “This is a ridiculous decision. 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.”
Broadcasters Jeff Stelling and Laura Woods also backed Lineker. 
Earlier the BBC said in its statement: “We have said we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting MoTD until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.
“We have never said that Gary should be an opinion-free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on political issues or political controversies.”
A TV insider added: “This is typical of the BBC being unable to handle a crisis which involves itself — they almost implode in confusion over what to do. They haven’t disciplined him, and have been briefing the media saying he won’t step down, but have now decided to take him off air to review their own policies. It’s all a bit bewildering.
“No wonder nobody knows what they can and can’t say.”
Lineker appeared to have ridden out the row until yesterday, and had tweeted: “Well, it’s been an interesting couple of days. Happy this ridiculously out of proportion story seems to be abating and very much looking forward to presenting Match of the Day on Saturday.”

PM Rishi Sunak said he hoped critics such as Lineker would eventually see why they were wrong about his immigration plan.
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 Ex-Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: “Gary is of course entitled to hold his views. 
“The problem is he is the highest-paid person working for the BBC and is closely associated with the BBC. I’m afraid that those things are not compatible.” 
Gary Lineker ‘wept’ when he found out his pals had publicly backed him as the BBC took him off airCredit: Alamy More

MATCH of the Day will go ahead on Saturday – but WITHOUT presenters, pundits or commentators.The BBC said the exodus of pundits following Gary Lineker’s suspension means tonight’s episode will show only football replay.
The BBC told The Sun the exodus of pundits following Gary Linker’s suspension means they will show only football replayCredit: PA
Co-host Ian Wright became the first pundit to boycott Match of the Day in solidarity with Gary LinekerCredit: PA
And there will be no studio analysis by pundits for viewers.
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.”
The show’s commentary team are also standing down. Commentators usually heard on football broadcasts outside the UK are expected to be shipped in.
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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”.
The BBC said Mr Lineker’s criticism of the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill on Twitter was a “breach of our guidelines”.
The pundit was then forced to step back from presenting duties on the flagship football show – that he’s presented since 1999 – until a “clear position” on his social media use is agreed.
But his suspension sparked chaos as scores of co-hosts of Match of the Day launched a mutiny.
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Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman and Micah Richards all refused to fill in amid the chaos.
The row was triggered when Mr Lineker 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 earlier, 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.
The full statement read: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days.
“We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.
“The BBC 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.
“When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none.
“We have never said that Gary should be an opinion free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.”

Following the BBC’s suspension of Mr Lineker, Match of the Day co-host Wright said he will boycott Saturday’s episode in “solidarity”.
He tweeted on Friday: “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity.”
And Shearer shortly followed suit, tweeting: “I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night.”
Scott later declared herself out of the race with a cryptic tweet of US politician Bernie Sanders saying: “Nah… not for me.”
And pundit Micah Richards backed the boycotters – saying he’d do the same if he was asked to host.
Jemaine Jenas also ruled himself out of presenting duties.
Mark Chapman – who presents Match of the Day 2 on Sunday – also said he would not stand in.
In a tweet, Steve Wilson, one of the flagship footie show’s commentators, said he and his colleagues will also not be heard in Saturday’s episode.
He explained on Friday night: “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.”
The move means the dulcet tones of commentators Conor McNamara, Simon Brotherton and Robyn Cowen will fall silent tonight.
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They will likely be covered by commentary usually provided for football broadcasts outside the UK.
Alan Shearer has joined Ian Wright in boycotting Match of the Day tonightCredit: Alamy
And Alex Scott shared a meme saying: ‘Nah… not for me.’Credit: Getty
Micah Richard’s says he backed the pundits in their decisionCredit: Alamy
Mark Chapman also ruled himself outCredit: PA More