Gary Lineker

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker is to step back from presenting the programme until an agreement is reached on his use of social media, the BBC sai.

We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. Lineker tweeted on Thursday that he was “very much looking forward” to presenting Match Of The Day on Saturday. Pundit and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has said he will not be appearing on Match of the Day on Saturday in “solidarity” with Gary Lineker. “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. Gary Lineker will “step back” from presenting Match Of The Day until he and the BBC have reached 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 party political issues or political controversies.”

Gary Lineker will take a step back from presenting "Match of the Day," the iconic British football show, following controversy about a tweet he wrote ...

Meanwhile, Dan Walker, a former BBC Breakfast and Football Focus presenter, tweeted: “I used to sit in for Gary Lineker on MOTD… “When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. 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?”

Piers Morgan jumped to defense of his friend Gary Lineker, slamming the BBC's 'spineless' decision to take him off air.

We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. “When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. In a tweet on Tuesday, he added: “We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.

Pundit and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright said he would boycott the show in solidarity with Lineker.

We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. “I’m not sure when they suggested to Gary Lineker he step back from (Match Of The Day) the BBC realised it might be starting a much much bigger battle,” she tweeted. “So Gary Lineker wants to continue to present Match Of The Day and is not apologising for what he’s said, but he’s said it’s a BBC decision to force him to not present the programme at the moment.” The announcement by the BBC on Friday prompted pundit and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright to tweet that he would not be appearing on Match Of The Day on Saturday in “solidarity” with Lineker. “And I have asked Gary Lineker the question about whether he is stepping back or whether the BBC have told him to step back and I’ve told him that if he responds to me that I will read out that text on air. Gary Lineker has reportedly claimed the BBC “told him” he had to step back from presenting Match Of The Day amid criticism of his comments about the Government’s new asylum policy.

In today's Football Daily email: A badly-timed announcement, Ken Sema speaks out and Antonio Conte comes out swinging.

Today’s winner of our letter o’ the day, receiving the last copy of Nooruddean Choudry’s [Inshallah United: a story of faith and football](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inshallah-United-story-faith-football/dp/0008522235), is … [the Club Brugge statement](https://www.clubbrugge.be/nl/nieuws/scott-parker-niet-langer-coach-van-club-brugge) about Scott Parker seems to say he is not the coach for getting it launched. “Maybe I am the only pedant bothering to write in to point out that, in all likelihood, Corinne Diacre received la botte from France. Football Daily awaits his trademark wry Match of the Day intro and sign-off with interest, suspecting at least one or both will be extremely mischievous and provide more grist to the awful Tories’ mill. [tweeted Lee Anderson](https://twitter.com/LeeAndersonMP_/status/1634139219932192768) earlier today, referring to a story about the British economy. I try to say everything I think, it doesn’t define me as a person” – Watford’s Ken Sema, who has a stammer, “You won’t see this in the MSM [Mainstream Media],” added the deputy chairman of the Conservative party, despite the fact that the headline to which he was drawing the attention of his followers had literally been screengrabbed from that little-known underground news-sheet, The Times. The BBC chairman Richard Sharp, who is so famously politically neutral he has donated over £400,000 to the Conservative party? As someone who works for the BBC, they and their army of online useful idiots spluttered, Lineker was clearly in breach of Beeb impartiality rules and should therefore be forced into a grovelling apology before being summarily dismissed from his job. Or the Beeb’s politically unpartisan director general, Tim Davie, a card-carrying Conservative who has previously stood in local council elections and is rumoured to have scrapped the excellent satire The Mash Report because he believed it criticised his beloved Tory party too much. Quite apart from confirming long-held suspicions that the MP for Ashfield is considerably thicker than a submarine door, his tweet did at least suggest that perhaps assorted Tories were beginning to move on from one of the more surreal self-owns in very recent British political history. No sooner had Gary pressed send, than the usual suspects on the Tory front bench, GBeebies, The Telegraph, The Mail and other right-wing news outlets began clutching their pearls at this fairly banal but quite accurate observation, then started calling for the Match of the Day presenter’s head.

Corporation takes its highest-paid presenter off air after criticism from Tory MPs and rightwing media.

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.” Philippa Childs, head of the entertainment trade union Bectu which represents thousands of BBC workers, said the broadcaster’s decision was “deeply concerning”. The presenter and former Arsenal and England player Alex Scott also appeared to rule herself out of presenting Saturday’s edition of Match of the Day amid speculation that she might take over. Lineker’s comments dominated coverage of the government’s new asylum policy and were publicly criticised by a number of cabinet ministers. Sharp later claimed that he had acted “in good faith” as a “go-between”. “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. Not me” alongside the caption: “FYI …” He likened the language used by ministers about asylum seekers to “that used by Germany in the 30s”, a [comparison labelled “offensive”](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/09/gary-lineker-says-he-stands-by-remarks-about-immigration-policy-bbc) by the home secretary, Suella Braverman. A BBC spokesperson said Lineker would be off air until an agreement was reached on his future use of social media. Wright, the former England footballer and a regular co-presenter, swiftly said he would not be working on this Saturday’s Match of the Day as a result of Lineker’s suspension. “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 announcement by the BBC prompted pundit and former Arsenal striker Wright to tweet that he would not be appearing on Saturday in “solidarity”. “Everybody ...

We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. Scott tweeted a Gif of US politician Bernie Sanders saying “Nah! “I’m not sure when they suggested to Gary Lineker he step back from (Match Of The Day) the BBC realised it might be starting a much much bigger battle,” she tweeted. “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.” Announcing the decision regarding Lineker on Friday, a spokesperson for the BBC said the broadcaster had been “in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. The announcement by the BBC prompted pundit and former Arsenal striker Wright to tweet that he would not be appearing on Saturday in “solidarity”.

Explained: Why Gary Lineker is stepping back from presenting Match of the Day, and why his tweeting is a problem for the BBC.

[Alex Scott](https://theathletic.com/football/player/alex-scott-a2HhDc77LHS5EFEo/) and Alan Shearer stated that they would not be appearing on the show, in solidarity with Lineker. Will they take note of the significant backlash and reinstate Lineker? We have had a conversation and I think he understands the guidelines.” In 2016 The Sun newspaper — owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp — called for Lineker to be sacked after he called another immigration policy “racist”. And this isn’t the first time he has fallen foul of those regulations. “The BBC is committed to achieving due impartiality in all its output. The country needs centre forwards, people who are prepared to put the hard work in and create opportunities. But, while it is technically independent of the state, officially BBC employees are supposed to be politically neutral — which is where Lineker has encountered some problems. And it needs a team captain with a plan. And it needs a team captain with a plan.” An elite sportsman who wasn’t quite the greatest of his generation, and also a much-loved broadcaster. So I find it a lazy and unhelpful comparison to make.”

The BBC has pulled TV soccer host Gary Linekar from Match of the Day after he took to Twitter to slam new government immigration asylum policy Britain.

The BBC in its statement defended Lineker as “second to none” in leading the broadcaster’s soccer and sports coverage. “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days,” a spokesperson for the U.K. But the pubcaster has judged his criticism of the U.K. government to have breached its strict social media impartiality rules. “We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.” On Tuesday, after the U.K. “Well, it’s been an interesting couple of days. “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,” the BBC said in its statement. It’s been overwhelming,” government’s new refugee asylum policy earlier in the week. Lineker had no direct comment on Friday about his forced absence from this weekend’s hosting role, but on Thursday on Twitter said he looked forward to appearing on the BBC this weekend. [BBC](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/t/bbc/)’s highest-paid TV presenter, has been pulled from presenting Match of the Day after taking to Twitter to criticize the U.K.

Match of the Day will air on Saturday without presenters or pundits, the BBC has announced, after Ian Wright and Alan Shearer pulled out of the show in ...

Ms Dorries claimed the senior civil servant was a “personal friend of Keir Starmer, someone who has been in discussion over who knows what period of time ... But in a statement on Friday, the BBC said: “Domestic abuse is abhorrent, and we would never wish to suggest otherwise. Friends of his have said it did happen but it was a one-off.” More reaction to the Match of the Day announcement Stanley Johnson has not commented publicly on that. Exclusive: How the Gary Lineker and Match of the Day chaos unfolded

It added he should “keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies”. The BBC asked Lineker to step back after “extensive ...

This week, Lineker has been critical of the British government and a controversial migration bill. “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.” It “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”, the statement said.

The BBC presenter's sidelining will delight ministers eager for a distraction. The last thing they want is for us to see refugees as real people, ...

It can’t be beyond the wit of even this government to see the connection – and come up with a scheme that would open up a regular route for people who could help fill some of the 1.2m UK jobs that remain stubbornly vacant. Above all, to reflect that, but for the lottery of fate, it would not be them on those boats – it would be us. Of course, some of those coming here will be acting on the eternal and universal human impulse to move in search of a brighter future. The UK granted asylum to 13,000 people in 2021, a fraction of the 60,000 taken in by Germany and much less than half of those admitted by France. Most of those are women and children, often the victims of trafficking and exploitation. [Germany in the 30s](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/09/gary-lineker-says-he-stands-by-remarks-about-immigration-policy-bbc)”, as he tweeted. [on the face of the bill](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0262/220262.pdf) is Braverman’s admission that the new law may be incompatible with the European convention on human rights. [turning out in force](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/feb/17/asylum-seekers-living-in-fear-far-right-uk-anti-migrant-protests-planned) outside places where new arrivals are housed – it’s also wholly false. Some might read that sentence and think the obvious solution is for genuine refugees to arrive “regularly”. But besides being grotesque and inhuman language – a dog-whistle that’s been heard by the far right, It’s also the second time this government has asked the Commons to pass legislation that it admits [ is at odds with international law](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/sep/08/government-admits-new-brexit-bill-will-break-international-law). Even to talk about it is a distraction, but let’s be clear: Gary Lineker is not the villain here.

Former England soccer captain Gary Lineker has been taken off air by the BBC after his comments on Britain's migration policy sparked a furious row between ...

His appointment, made on the recommendation of the government, is now being reviewed by Britain's public appointments watchdog. The BBC, funded by what is in effect a 159 pounds ($192)annual “license fee” tax on all television-watching households, has a central presence in British cultural life. The BBC said after talks with Lineker and his team that it had decided he would step back from presenting its flagship Match of the Day (MOTD) soccer highlights programme "until we've got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media". "Gary Lineker off air is an assault on free speech in the face of political pressure," the opposition Labour party said, calling for the BBC to re-think its decision. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story Lineker was told there has to be an agreed position on his use of social media before he can return, the BBC said on Friday, with Director General Tim Davie saying it had taken a "proportionate action".

Gary Lineker was asked to step back from the show after breaking the broadcaster's impartiality rules on Twitter earlier this week.

It will give the appearance that they have bowed to political pressure from ministers to take someone off air for disagreeing with the policies of the current government. Earlier on Friday, the BBC said Lineker was being benched while it figured out how the presenter can voice his views on social media in a way that is compatible with the corporation’s duty to impartiality. Lineker’s suspension has also prompted criticism of the BBC from across the political spectrum. “We understand their position and we have decided that the program will focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry.” In response, a series of the show’s regular contributors, including former soccer players Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, and Alex Scott, announced that they would not appear on the show this weekend. With an effective presenters strike in motion, the BBC released a statement that said this week’s episode of Match of the Day would air without its regular studio segment.

Support pours in for former England captain Gary Lineker, removed by BBC over tweets on UK government's refugee policy.

It’s the BBC that needs Lineker to restore its credibility.” Well done Ian Wright for showing the meaning of solidarity.” “I think he’s become one of the really important cultural figures for the country. “As a strong supporter of public service broadcasting, I want to be able to defend the BBC. But the decision to take But the decision to take Gary Lineker off air is indefensible.

The BBC have suspended Gary Lineker from Match of the Day, with the situation said to be unfolding at the state broadcaster.

Ex-director general says decision to suspend presenter for criticising government's asylum policies is mistaken.

And clearly the BBC has failed on that.” The decision led to displays of solidarity from Lineker’s co-hosts, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, who announced that they would not be participating in Saturday’s show. If you’re working for the BBC, you have a responsibility, when you’re public-facing … “I think what the BBC did yesterday was mistaken. Asked whether Lineker’s tweet was acceptable, he said: “We live in a world of freedom of speech and therefore, yes. “And once the BBC does that, then you’re in real problems.

'It was OK for Gary Lineker to use his platform to criticise Qatar - but not when it comes to airing his views on the UK government.'

How ironic that the people who would ordinarily label Lineker’s supporters as “woke” and “snowflakes” temporarily seem to have parked their views opposing cancel culture. [England](https://theathletic.com/football/team/england/) and winning the Golden Boot as top scorer in the 1986 World Cup. It means there will be nobody in the studio to take us through the latest VAR cockups or debate why Tottenham have gone so Spursy again. It was an illusion created by a bit of top-spin from the headline writers who, noticeably in some cases, have been referring to Suella by her first name while not affording Lineker the same courtesy. There had never been a huge influx, Lineker countered, especially in comparison to the other European countries who had opened their borders to much bigger numbers. Cue outrage from one side of the political spectrum and a tsunami of unconcealed glee from the other. Lineker’s argument was that he was employed by various platforms, rather than just the Beeb, and tweeting independently. Just not when it comes to the UK government if some of the people it may involve would rather he kept his trap shut. Then there was the backlash to the backlash. If nothing else, kudos to the relevant people for taking a stand in support of the show’s usual anchor. Others made it clear behind the scenes that it was a W for Whatever from them, too. Ian Wright was the first to announce he would not be taking part out of solidarity with his colleague.

BBC Radio 5 Live's schedule was obliterated as live sport coverage was replaced by podcast repeats. Colin Murray and Mark Chapman were among the presenters who ...

We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. Lineker was deemed to have broken BBC impartiality rules last October after tweeting his views on the Conservative Party accepting donations from Russia. “When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. - Lineker is yet to even comment on his suspension. We are sorry for these changes which we recognise will be disappointing for BBC sport fans. [BBC](https://deadline.com/tag/bbc/) has apologized after its Premier League output went into freefall as mutinous presenters and pundits staged a protest over the suspension of [Gary Lineker](https://deadline.com/tag/gary-lineker/).

Alex Scott, the host of the BBC's "Football Focus" TV programme, pulled out of the show after Gary Lineker was taken off air.

This is a common sense decision that ensures players won't now be in that position." In the interest of transparency, this was a decision taken by the entire FT team and myself." "The PFA have been speaking to members who wanted to take a collective position and to be able to show their support for those who have chosen not to be part of tonight's programme," the PFA said in a statement.

Gary Lineker rose to fame as a goalscoring hero for England at World Cups before becoming the leading face of sports broadcasting for the BBC over the past ...

Pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer and regular commentators say they will not appear on Saturday.

He is employed by the BBC on a freelance basis. "The BBC is not acting impartially by caving in to Tory MPs who are complaining about Gary Lineker," he told broadcasters at Welsh Labour's conference in Llandudno. He said the government should focus on fixing the asylum system rather than "whingeing on" about Lineker and accused BBC bosses of bowing to pressure from ministers. Lineker reacted to it on Twitter calling it an "immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s". Mr Dyke warned the move could create the impression that the "BBC has bowed to government pressure". "The real problem today is that the BBC has undermined its own credibility by doing this," he told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Ian Wright and Piers Morgan support BBC presenter's right to express views while Suella Braverman and Lee Anderson are critical.

Mike Graham Another TalkTV host, Graham called Lineker’s tweet “disgusting” and said he should apologise to people of Jewish heritage who had found it offensive. “The people who are paying Gary Lineker’s salary are licence fee payers and they do not all agree with Gary Lineker,” she said. “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.” Lee Anderson The Conservative party vice-chair called Lineker’s invocation of Nazi-era Germany “disgusting and vile”. “The perception out there is that the BBC has bowed to government pressure. Ian Wright After it was announced on Friday that Lineker would not be hosting Saturday’s Match of the Day (MOTD), his co-host Wright said he wouldn’t be appearing either.

The BBC is facing a boycott of its flagship soccer show "Match of the Day," as well as other soccer coverage, following its announcement that presenter Gary ...

But the decision to take Gary Lineker off air is indefensible. 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?” Lots of non Public Service Broadcasters can accommodate him and his views and he would be better paid.” “I honestly do not believe, despite a lot of the commentary, that this is about left or right,” Davie said. [tweeted](https://twitter.com/NicolaSturgeon/status/1634258493954727949): “As a strong supporter of public service broadcasting, I want to be able to defend the BBC. “It’s always such a privilege to work with BBC MOTD. But tomorrow I have taken the decision to stand down from my punditry duties. In an interview with BBC News on Saturday, the broadcaster’s Director General Tim Davie was asked if he should resign over the crisis. “The PFA have been speaking to members who wanted to take a collective position and to be able to show their support for those who have chosen not to be part of tonight’s programme,” the statement added. [announced](https://twitter.com/PFA/status/1634490666276323328/photo/1) on Saturday “players involved in today’s games will not be asked to participate in interviews with Match of the Day.” He added: “There is no huge influx. “The BBC will only be able to bring limited sport programming this weekend and our schedules will be updated to reflect that,” a BBC spokesperson said in a statement Saturday.

The broadcaster axed much of its soccer coverage on Saturday after presenters refused to work.

Speaking to BBC radio, Greg Dyke, a former director general of the BBC, said he thought the BBC had made a mistake by suspending Lineker and he did not expect the footballer to be silenced. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story Lineker, 62, had earlier in the week taken to Twitter to describe new government legislation on migrants as a "cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s."

As a growing number of Premier League players and presenters rallied to Lineker's support, Britain's national broadcaster was forced to rip up its radio and ...

Last year, the BBC found Lineker had breached impartiality rules with a tweet about the Conservatives’ alleged Russian donations. Lunchtime TV program “Football Focus” was replaced on Saturday with a rerun episode of antiques show “Bargain Hunt,” while early evening “Final Score” was swapped for “The Repair Shop.” We are working hard to resolve the situation and hope to do so soon.” He was greeted with cheers from bystanders as he arrived. There will not be any post-match player interviews, either. [was suspended](https://apnews.com/article/gary-lineker-bbc-migrants-comments-braverman-86e76bdcec9d9c6773a3a87d5943422b) from “Match of the Day,” a popular highlights show, over a [lawmakers’ language about migrants](https://apnews.com/article/uk-migrants-channel-asylum-human-rights-braverman-497fc05aa4056bc3fdb2b5ba381931c1) to that used in Nazi Germany.

The BBC was forced to scrap much of its weekend sports programming as it scrambled to stem an escalating crisis over its suspension of host Gary Lineker.

Lineker has yet to comment publicly, and on Saturday went to his hometown of Leicester to watch Leicester City play Chelsea in the Premier League. On Friday, the BBC said Lineker would "step back" from "Match of the Day" until it had "an agreed and clear position on his use of social media." There will be no commentary on the matches and no studio punditry from some of the most high-profile stars in the British game who have chosen to support Lineker and not work. Instead of blanket coverage on Saturday of the most popular league in the world, the BBC had no preview shows on radio or TV and no early evening summary of the final scores of Premier League games. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made his first comments on the storm, saying: "Gary Lineker was a great footballer and is a talented presenter. The broadcaster said it would air only "limited sport programming" this weekend after hosts of many of its popular sports shows declined to appear, in solidarity with Lineker.