Match of the Day pundits pull out after Gary Lineker told to step back

6 months ago 10

Image shows Alan Shearer and Ian WrightImage source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Alan Shearer and Ian Wright person some said they volition not look connected Match of the Day connected Saturday

Match of the Day pundits including Ian Wright and Alan Shearer person said they volition not look connected the programme this play aft the BBC told Gary Lineker to measurement backmost from presenting.

Micah Richards and Jermaine Jenas besides said they would not appear, portion Alex Scott hinted she would bash the same.

It follows an impartiality enactment implicit comments Lineker made criticising the government's caller asylum policy.

The BBC said it asked him to measurement backmost aft "extensive discussions".

In a connection connected Friday, it said it considered his caller societal media enactment to beryllium a breach of its guidelines. It said it had "decided that helium volition measurement backmost from presenting Match of the Day until we've got an agreed and wide presumption connected his usage of societal media".

Former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, who besides presents connected the show, past said helium had "informed the BBC that I won't beryllium appearing connected MOTD time night".

Shortly after, ex-Arsenal and Lionesses subordinate Alex Scott hinted that she excessively would not appear, tweeting a GIF of US person Bernie Sanders saying "Nah! Not me" with the caption: "FYI...".

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Lineker has hosted Match of the Day since 1999 and is the BBC's highest paid star

She was followed by erstwhile Manchester City defender Richards, who wrote connected Twitter: "I was not owed to beryllium moving connected MOTD tomorrow, but if I was, I would find myself taking the aforesaid determination that [Ian Wright] & [Alan Shearer] have."

Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jenas past tweeted: "Been connected aerial with the 1 show. I wasn't down to beryllium doing lucifer of the time tomorrow, but if I was I would of said nary and stood with my chap pundits and [Gary Lineker]."

Lineker has not yet publically commented, but portion presenting 5News earlier, erstwhile BBC presenter Dan Walker work retired a substance unrecorded connected aerial from the 62-year-old.

Walker said helium had messaged Lineker asking: "What is happening. Are you stepping back?"

He said helium had received a reply saying: "No, they've [the BBC] told maine I person to measurement back."

On Tuesday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman outlined the government's plans to prohibition radical arriving successful the UK illegally from ever claiming asylum, successful a bid to code a emergence successful the fig of radical crossing the Channel successful tiny boats.

Lineker reacted to it connected Twitter calling it an "immeasurably cruel argumentation directed astatine the astir susceptible radical successful connection that is not dissimilar to that utilized by Germany successful the 30s".

Lineker has hosted Match of the Day since 1999 and is the BBC's highest paid star, having earned astir £1.35m successful 2020-21. He is employed by the BBC connected a freelance basis.

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