Gary Lineker

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?”

Former England captain Gary Lineker will not present a soccer highlights show on the BBC until an agreement is reached on his social media use, ...

The 62-year-old Lineker is a household name in Britain and one of the U.K.'s most influential media figures, with 8.7 million followers on Twitter. The BBC considers Lineker posting such views on social media as a breach of its guidelines. Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, former England players who work as pundits on "Match of the Day," said on Twitter they would not be appearing on the program this weekend.

Ian Wright said he will not appear on tomorrow's edition of the BBC's Premier League highlights show in “solidarity” with lead presenter Gary Lineker.

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. On Friday, the opposition Labour party said the BBC’s decision was “cowardly” and an “assault on free speech in the face of political pressure.” The BBC announced the decision to pull Lineker back from the popular highlights show on Friday afternoon after “extensive discussions” with Lineker, in which the sports presenter was told that his tweet comparing UK government policy to Nazi Germany was unacceptable. Solidarity.” Former Arsenal footballer and popular BBC presenter Alex Scott also posted a meme on Twitter that features a clip of Bernie Sanders saying “nah, not me” with the caption “FYI.” Many have interpreted the post as Scott also bowing out of Match Of The Day duties.

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.”

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

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.

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.

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.”

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.”

Gary Lineker, the BBC's highest-paid presenter, compared the government's asylum policy to rhetoric used by Nazi Germany.

Lineker was deemed to have broken BBC impartiality rules last October after tweeting his views on the Conservative Party accepting donations from Russia. 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. The BBC said Lineker had “additional responsibility” because of his high profile and reminded him that employees should “avoid taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.” Some called for him to be suspended. Lineker has repeatedly defended his original tweets.

Lineker was removed as presenter of BBC's Match of the Day show after criticising UK government's asylum-seeker policy.

He was the leading scorer at the 1986 World Cup and finished his international career with 48 goals in 80 matches for England. 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 the interests of fairness could you please now ask [@Lord_Sugar]to step aside from [@bbcapprentice]. Otherwise people may wonder if you are truly impartial [@GaryLineker] [pic.twitter.com/GY2JurOiLy] “So Gary Lineker wants to continue to present ‘Match Of The Day’ and is not apologising for what he has said,” Walker said on Channel 5, where he works, “but he has said it’s a BBC decision to force him to not present the program at the moment”. Lineker has yet to make an official comment on his temporary dismissal, though one of his former BBC colleagues – Dan Walker – said he had been in contact with Lineker and asked him “whether he is stepping back or whether the BBC have told him to step back”.

Match of the Day pundits Alex Scott and Jermaine Jenas have shown their support for Gary Lineker after the BBC told him to step back from presenting…

Been on air with the one show. Whilst Jenas also shared a tweet, saying how wasn't meant to be on MOTD and if he was he would have pulled out, saying: "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— Jermaine Jenas (@jjenas8) 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." The BBC said in a statement that they found Lineker's "recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines". [Ian Wright](http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23378796.ian-wright-pulls-motd-gary-lineker-steps-back/) and [Alan Shearer](https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23378967.alan-shearer-pulls-motd-gary-lineker-steps-back/) also announced they would not be hosting MOTD over the weekend as the both showed their solidarity for [Lineker](http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23371817.gary-lineker-speaks-comments-small-boats-plan/).

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.

One of its most famous and best loved presenters has been taken off air - and it appears to be in the midst of a stand-off with no clear exit strategy for ...

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.

Broadcaster pulls ex-footballer from sports programme after he compares government rhetoric over immigration to Nazi Germany.

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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.