Fans hit out at BBC decision to take Gary Lineker off air

10/03/2023

‘Gary Lineker IS Match of the Day, there’s no point watching now’: Fans hit out at BBC decision to take Gary Lineker off air as they blast broadcaster for ‘losing touch with the audience, country and reality’

Social media has clashed over Gary Lineker’s removal from Match of the Day
Some sympathised with the presenter for having his ‘free speech’ restricted
While others backed the BBC for making the right decision to remove Lineker

Social media users have clashed over the BBC’s decision to remove Gary Lineker from hosting this weekend’s edition of Match of the Day.

The 62-year old MOTD icon has been made to ‘step back’ from the broadcasting corporations infamous football show after breaching the BBC’s ‘social media guidelines’ having previously compared the UK’s immigration policy to Nazi Germany.

MailOnline have also analysed Lineker’s actions that led up to his recent axing and have explained the ongoing situation.

Twitter began to buzz after a BBC spokesperson announced the decision to press forward with Lineker’s removal until the two parties had an ‘agreed and clear position on his use of social media’.

Large swathes of online comments appeared to refute the decision, while others admitted the corporation had done the right thing after Lineker stood by his viewpoint.

Social media has clashed over Gary Lineker’s removal from the BBC’s Match of the Day show

One unhappy supporter of Lineker fumed: ‘I think you’ve lost touch with your audience, your country, and reality, if you think messing with MOTD and Gary Lineker is going to go well for you.

Others suggested that Lineker was the only reason people tuned in to watch the Saturday football show, adding: ‘Not a massive fan of Lineker but he is Match of the Day, no point watching now.

Another commenter highlighted Lineker’s temporary removal and ranted that the presenter should still be paid his staggering £1.35m BBC salary even if he isn’t working.

‘Presumably, and as they should, the BBC is still paying Lineker for not presenting MOTD, since they haven’t terminated his contract?’ a sympathiser tweeted.

Another labelled the BBC’s actions as ‘ridiculous’ and that free speech should be defended, posting: ‘Because Gary Lineker has an opinion on Twitter, he has to step back from introducing football games on television.

‘That is ridiculous, in my view. Free speech is free speech; we should defend it where we can.’

A similar post echoed worries that Lineker’s removal questions ‘freedom of expression’ and reminded the BBC that ‘this isn’t Russia or China’, writing: ‘I feel such a sense of despair as to where we’re heading. This isn’t about Lineker it’s about freedom of expression.

‘The BBC is a public broadcaster. It is not a state broadcaster. This isn’t Russia, Iran or China. Not yet anyway.

Lineker has been removed from his role on the iconic BBC show after his social media comments

Controversial news outlet GB News conducted an interview with former Southampton player Matt Le Tissier who was dropped from his duties as a Sky Sports presenter in 2020.

‘BBC have just announced Gary Lineker will not be presenting MOTD until he comes to an agreement on his social media usage. Note how the elite are always harsher on those fighting racism than those espousing racist views,’ wrote one user.

Fellow sympathisers also criticised the BBC as being ‘additionally useless’, with one writing: ‘I’m hoping at some point we’re all going to focus on the actual illegal bill the government are proposing and not just Gary Lineker’s opinion on it. BBC are honestly useless.

Meanwhile, fellow MOTD pundit Ian Wright has revealed he won’t be featuring on the show this weekend.

LINEKER REPLACEMENT BETTING ODDS

Jermaine Jenas 6/4 – FAV

Mark Chapman 10/1

Micah Richards 200/1

Roy Keane 250/1

Jamie Carragher 250/1

Gary Neville 250/1

All odds courtesy of PaddyPower

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