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Image source, PA Media
Image caption, Lineker has hosted Match of the Day since 1999 and is the BBC’s highest paid star
Match of the Day will air later without a studio presenter or pundits, and some of its regular commentators, after the BBC told Gary Lineker to step back in a row over impartiality.
Pundits Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and Jermaine Jenas have all said they would not appear on the show.
Alex Scott hinted the same while six members of the MOTD commentating team said they would also not take part.
It follows presenter Lineker’s criticism of government asylum policy.
On Twitter, the former England footballer had compared the language used by the government to unveil its new plans as “not dissimilar to” 1930s Germany.
The BBC said it it had asked Lineker to step back from presenting after “extensive discussions” with him.
The corporation said it considered his “recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines”, adding it had been “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 BBC said the English Premier League football highlights show MOTD on Saturday night will instead “focus on match action”.
In a later statement, a 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 commentators Steve Wilson, Conor McNamara, Robyn Rowen and Steven Wyeth all shared a joint statement online on Friday evening, reading: “We have decided to step down from tomorrow’s night’s broadcast.
“We are comforted that football fans who want to watch their teams should still be able to do,” they added, explaining that alternative commentary sources were available to the programme.
Media caption, WATCH: Gary Lineker tweet row… in under 90 seconds
BBC Sport understands a number of players from various clubs contacted the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) to say they may want to show solidarity with Lineker and the MOTD pundits by boycotting the post-match interviews on the show.
The PFA – which has been in talks with players and clubs on the matter – are believed to be supportive of any players who choose to do so.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright have both said they will not appear on Match of the Day on Saturday
Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, who also appears on the show, then said he had “informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night”.
Shortly after, ex-Arsenal and Lionesses player Alex Scott hinted that she too would not appear, tweeting a GIF of US politician Bernie Sanders saying “Nah! Not me” with the caption: “FYI…”.
She was followed by former Manchester City defender Richards, who wrote on Twitter: “I was not due to be working on MOTD tomorrow, but if I was, I would find myself taking the same decision that [Ian Wright] & [Alan Shearer] have.”
Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jenas then 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 [Gary Lineker].”
Lineker has not yet publicly commented on the latest developments, but while presenting 5News earlier, former BBC presenter Dan Walker read out a text live on air from the 62-year-old.
Walker said he had messaged Lineker asking: “What is happ
Source: BBC Sport | Read More
