Match of the Day latest — Gary Lineker pulled by BBC as show to air with NO presenters or commentators | The Sun
GARY Lineker will not present TONIGHT'S BBC from Match of the Day after his controversial statements about new immigration legislation.
In a statement, the BBC said it 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."
Since Lineker was pulled, fellow presenter and former Arsenal star Ian Wright announced that he would refuse to be on the show tonight. Alan Shearer quickly followed suit.
The BBC has since announced that the show will go on, but there will be no hosts, pundits or commentary from BBC commentators.
It comes after Mr Lineker sparked a major backlash this week when he took to Twitter to hit out at the Illegal Migration Bill, which bans migrants who arrive on small boats from ever settling in Britain.
"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 former Leicester player wrote.
Follow our Match of the Day blog for news and updates…
- Mollie Mansfield
Show will go on
BBC has confirmed that Match of the Day will still air tonight.
However, there will be NO hosts.
The BBC told The Sun the exodus of pundits following Gary Linker's suspension means they will show only football.
- Mollie Mansfield
Full statement from BBC
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."
- Mollie Mansfield
Alex Scott posts cryptic tweet
Footie pundit Alex Scott says she won't step in to host Match of the Day in place of Gary Lineker after his suspension from the show.
In a cryptic tweet the ex-Lioness shared a meme of US politician Bernie Sanders saying: "Nah… not for me."
The BBC has since revealed that the show will go ahead, but with no hosts.
- Mollie Mansfield
Ian Wright and Alan Shearer speak out
Lineker's co-hosts on Match of The Day, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer have also stepped back from the show in a sign of solidarity to Lineker.
Wright tweeted: "Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity."
This was shortly followed by co-star Alan Shearer who said: "I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night."
- Mollie Mansfield
What did Gary Lineker tweet?
Lineker took to Twitter to hit out at the Illegal Migration Bill, which bans migrants who arrive on small boats from settling in Britain.
He tweeted: "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?"
- Mollie Mansfield
The legislation that's being discussed
The criticism of Mr Lineker came after he responded to a video on Twitter of Home Secretary Suella Braverman as she presented the Government's 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."
- Mollie Mansfield
'Breach of our guidelines'
The corporation said Mr Lineker's criticism of the Government's Illegal Migration Bill on Twitter was a "breach of our guidelines".
The pundit will now 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.
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".
- Mollie Mansfield
Disagrees with Lineker
Clarkson continued: All that being said, I disagree with him.
All of the people arriving in Kent have come from France which, last time I looked, is not a war zone.
And many are economic migrants who see the UK as a soft touch.
So there you are. Two differing views.
One from a former footballer and crisp enthusiast and another from a motoring journalist turned farmer. Take your pick.
But remember, whatever you decide, you have to accept that in a free country, you can’t really go around sacking people for expressing an opinion.
- Mollie Mansfield
Jeremy Clarkson reacts
In a comment piece for The Sun, Clarkson wrote the following.
People have been calling for Gary Lineker to be sacked because he says Britain’s new policy of slamming the door on anyone who arrives in Kent on a small boat reminds him of policies used in 1930s Germany.
Well now look. Gary’s bright and likeable. And he’s entitled to air his views on the matter.
I know the BBC gets its impartiality knickers in a twist every time he says something controversial but he’s a football pundit. Not Huw Edwards.
- Mollie Mansfield
Mark Chapman ruled out
Mark Chapman has reportedly ruled himself out as the Match of the Day host after fellow pundits pulled out in "solidarity" with Gary Lineker.
Now, football pundit Mark Chapman is thought to have ruled himself out of the race to be the new host.
Chief Sports Reporter at the Daily Mail Matt Hughes said in a tweet: "BBC desperately scrambling to secure a new presenter for Match of the Day, with Alex Scott and Mark Chapman both ruling themselves out following withdrawal of Alan Shearer and Ian Wright as pundits."
The BBC has since revealed that the show will go ahead, but with no hosts.
- Mollie Mansfield
MOTD plunged into meltdown
Match of the Day hosts staged a mutiny tonight after the BBC yanked Gary Lineker off air over the Nazi tweet row — plunging the flagship show into chaos.
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.
The BBC was left scrambling to find a panel for the show, as other stars ruled themselves out.
- Matthew Aquino
Inside Gary Lineker's reaction to suspension
Friends said Lineker had been blindsided by the statement and was being benched against his will.
It left Match of the Day 2 presenter Mark Chapman as favourite to step in.
The Beeb could not say when ex-England ace Lineker will return.
Tonight it appeared there was no way back for the star at the BBC.
He was ordered to issue a “humiliating apology” by execs or face being “rested” from the show.
- Mollie Mansfield
Jermaine Jenas says he WON’T host
Jermaine Jenas has become the SIXTH pundit to rule himself out of presenting Match of the Day following Gary Lineker's suspension.
Following an exodus of pundits from Saturday night's show, Jenas 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
@GaryLineker." - Matthew Aquino
Actor and comedian sends support to Lineker
Famous actor and comedian Julian Clary took to Twitter to add to the support of Gary Lineker after he was suspended for a controversial tweet.
Clary wrote: "Before they ask, no, I won’t go on #MOTD I stand with Gary Lineker. Hit them where it hurts."
Although Clary would most likely not appear on the show that didn't stop the comedian from having some fun and showing support.
- Matthew Aquino
Former footballer shares his opinion
Former Welsh footballer David Cotterill is not exactly thrilled to see all the support suddenly for Gary Lineker after his controversial tweet.
He wrote: "Everyone now sticking up for Gary Lineker about free speech."
Cotterill added: "Where was everyone when Matt Le Tissier got sacked from Sky Sports supporting him and his free speech? Might I add he’s been right about everything! I didn’t see no football pundits sticking up for him."
- Matthew Aquino
Sky Sports Reporter comments on situation
Chief Reporter Kaveh Solhekol gave his take on the Gary Lineker debacle on Twitter.
He said: "Gary Lineker suspended by the BBC for upsetting the Conservatives because he stood up for some of the most vulnerable people in the world."
Solhekol continued: "The same BBC whose chairman gave the Conservatives £400,000 before helping to arrange an £800,000 loan for Boris Johnson."
- James Orr
Commentators off show too
MOTD commentator Steve Wilson has confirmed that the show's commentators will also be stepping down from Saturday's broadcast in solidarity to Gary Lineker.
Wilson wrote on Twitter: "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."
- Matthew Aquino
Piers Morgan slams BBC, continued
Sir David Attenborough has criticised the Government's environmental record while Lord Sugar urged Brits to back the Tories in 2019.
In a later Tweet, TalkTV's Piers accused the BBC of being "pathetically spineless" over the decision.
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".
It came as he responded to a video on Twitter of Home Secretary Suella Braverman as she presented the Government's plan.
- Matthew Aquino
Piers Morgan slams BBC
Piers Morgan has blasted the BBC's "ridiculous" decision to pull Gary Lineker off Match of the Day.
He fumed: "This is a ridiculous decision and 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."
- Matthew Aquino
Inside Gary Lineker's Twitter disaster
Lineker took to Twitter to hit out at the Illegal Migration Bill, which bans migrants who arrive on small boats from settling in Britain.
He tweeted: "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?"
Since the tweet, Lineker has been suspended from hosting MOTD by BBC with no timetable set for a return.
- Matthew Aquino
Mark Chapman's future with MOTD
Mark Chapman has reportedly ruled himself out as the Match of the Day host after fellow pundits pulled out in "solidarity" with Gary Lineker.
Chief Sports Reporter at the Daily Mail Matt Hughes said in a tweet: "BBC desperately scrambling to secure a new presenter for Match of the Day, with Alex Scott and Mark Chapman both ruling themselves out following withdrawal of Alan Shearer and Ian Wright as pundits."
- Matthew Aquino
Alex Scott confirms future with MOTD
Gary Lineker has been suspended for the time being by the BBC Network and rumors have arisen that Alex Scott could possibly take over.
In a cryptic tweet, the ex-Lioness shared a gif of US politician Bernie Sanders saying: "Nah… not for me."
There has been no timetable for Lineker's return to the premiere show as his co-hosts Ian Wright and Alan Shearer are set to boycott tomorrow's episode.
- Mollie Mansfield
BBC spokesperson says NO hosts on Saturday's show
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.”
- Mollie Mansfield
MOTD going ahead with NO live hosts
Match of the Day will go ahead tomorrow – but WITHOUT presenters.
The BBC told The Sun the exodus of pundits following Gary Linker's suspension means they will show only football.
No commentary or analysis will happen on Saturday night's show.
- Matthew Aquino
Possible replacement for MOTD: Gabby Logan
The Welsh presenter is a former international rhythmic gymnast who represented Wales and Great Britain.
She hosted Final Score for BBC Sport from 2009 until 2013.
And she can always be relied upon to step up for duty should the occasion arise.
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