Celebrities and activists show support for Lineker
TwitterCopyright: Twitter
Fatboy Slim showed a giant photo of Gary Lineker in his show on Friday night in ManchesterImage caption: Fatboy Slim showed a giant photo of Gary Lineker in his show on Friday night in Manchester
A number of UK celebrities, prominent public figures and activists have come out in support of Gary Lineker, many of them using hashtag ImWithGary.
"Enough respect" tweeted musician and producer Fatboy Slim. He posted a clip from his Friday night gig in Manchester, where a giant photo of Gary Lineker was projected on a screen, to loud cheers.
Actor Reece Dinsdale tweeted: "He [Lineker] can comment on human rights in Qatar whilst presenting the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup but he can’t comment on the state of his OWN country’s government for himself.
How does that balance up, then?"
Meanwhile, political activist Femi Oluwole has written many tweets on the issue: "The same BBC that refused to apologise for saying the N-word in a news report, thinks it has the right to censor or even fire Gary Lineker for his political views, in the name of political sensitivity.
Give me a break!!!"
Author Philip Pullman tweeted that "my admiration for Gary Lineker, Ian Wright, and Alan Shearer is unbounded".
And The Mirror newspaper has started a petition, demanding that Lineker be reinstated by the BBC to the Match of the Day programme. More than 140,000 people have already signed it.
BreakingJason Mohammad will not present Final Score
BBCCopyright: BBC
Jason Mohammad has presented Final Score since 2013Image caption: Jason Mohammad has presented Final Score since 2013
Jason Mohammad, who presents another BBC football show, Final Score, has said he will not present it later today.
The programme normally airs at 16:30, to coincide with the end of football matches in the UK and summarise the results.
Writing on Twitter, the League One team says it "won’t be talking to the BBC before or after today’s game", including the hashtag '#WeStandWithGary' in its post.
Bristol Rovers are playing Forest Green away later today.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Members wanted to show their support - PFA
Earlier, we reported that the Premier League has told the 12 clubs playing today that their players and managers will not receive requests for Match of the Day interviews, the BBC understands.
A statement from the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has confirmed that - it's been informed that players will not be asked to do interviews with the show.
The PFA says its members "wanted to take a collective position and to be able to show their support for those who have chosen not to be part of tonight’s programme".
It adds that the union had made it clear it would "support all members who might face consequences for choosing not to complete their broadcast commitments".
I will not be presenting on BBC today - Kelly Somers
It comes after an earlier report in The Sun said she would be standing in for former England international Alex Scott in presenting Football Focus.
"Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today," she wrote on a tweet.
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
It had earlier been reporter Kelly Somers would stand in for Alex ScottImage caption: It had earlier been reporter Kelly Somers would stand in for Alex Scott
It doesn't feel right to go ahead - Alex Scott
Alex Scott has now tweeted about her decision not to front today's show."I made a decision last night that even though I love my show and we have had an incredible week winning an SJA for Football Focus that it doesn’t feel right for me to go ahead with the show today," the former Lioness says.
"Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week…" she adds.
BreakingAlex Scott pulls out of Football Focus
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Alex Scott and other pundits have pulled out of presenting the Football Focus and Final Score programmes, in solidarity with Gary Lineker, the BBC understands.
The former Arsenal player, who has presented the popular Saturday show since 2021, pulled out just a few hours before it was due to go on air.
'BBC in a real mess' - Labour
BBCCopyright: BBC
Labour's Lucy Powell, the shadow secretary for digital, culture, media and sport, was on BBC Breakfast earlier.
She says the BBC has got itself "in a real mess" by "bowing to the Tory campaign to cancel somebody who disagreed with their views.
Challenged on whether it really is a Tory campaign, she says it's "clear for everyone to see" because of "ministers on the airwaves" being "boosted by friends in right-wing media".
She suggests the timing of the BBC asking Lineker to step down shows the BBC has "capitulated".
She says impartiality should mean showing independence to the government of the day, rather than focusing on individuals' comments unless they are in news and current affairs.
What's been happening?
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
If you're just joining us or need a recap, here's the latest on the row betwee the BBC and Gary Lineker over comments he made on social media:
In a tweet on Tuesday, the Match of the Day host compared the language used to launch the government's new asylum policy with that used in 1930s Germany
The BBC said it considered his tweets a breach of its guidelines and that Lineker will remain off air until it gets "an agreed and clear position on his use of social media"
Following the announcement, other Match of the Day pundits dropped out of Saturday's show in solidarity with Lineker, including Ian Wright and Alan Shearer
The BBC then released a statement stating that no pundits or presenters will feature on Saturday's programme
The Premier League has told the 12 clubs playing today that their players and managers will not receive requests for Match of the Day interviews, the BBC understands
This comes after a number of players last night said they would not do post-match interviews with the BBC show, out of solidarity with Gary Lineker
'The BBC's reputation is bigger than any individual'
Richard Ayre, who was once the controller of BBC editorial policy, says it will be "a sad occasion for viewers" if Match of the Day has no pundits or commentators.
"It will be very sad if they can’t reconcile with Gary," he tells BBC Breakfast.
"He is superlative. He is absolutely extraordinarily good. Not just as a football pundit, but in my 50 or so years association with the BBC I have never come across a more naturally gifted television presenter.
"But frankly the BBC and its reputation is bigger and more important than any individual, even Gary."
Media gather outside Lineker's house
Hannah Bayman
BBC News
BBCCopyright: BBC
An assistant has just come out of Gary Lineker's house to take a delivery of food. They told us the man at the centre of this story is still asleep.
There are about a dozen press photographers and journalists here so far.
What has the BBC actually said?
Let's have a quick recap on what the BBC has said so far...
Yesterday, the broadcaster said it had asked Lineker to step back from presenting after "extensive discussions" with him.
The BBC 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".
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."
Also yesterday, BBC correspondent Nomia Iqbal approached Director General Tim Davie about the row.
Asked if he just kicked the issue further down the line, he said: “I think we’ve had very constructive discussions."
Video content
Video caption: BBC Director General Tim Davie quizzed on Lineker rowBBC Director General Tim Davie quizzed on Lineker row
The BBC doesn't apply guidelines fairly - Baroness Wheatcroft
Baroness Patience Wheatcroft, a crossbench peer and former editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal Europe and The Sunday Telegraph, also commented on the issue to Radio 4's Today show.
She says she agrees "with everything Gary Lineker said".
"I find the rhetoric coming out of government about asylum seekers deeply, deeply depressing and unappealing. I can completely understand why Gary Lineker said what he did."
She adds "the problem is the BBC has guidelines but it doesn’t apply them fairly".
Premier League clubs told MOTD will not ask for interviews
The Premier League has told the 12 clubs playing today that their players and managers will not receive requests for Match of the Day interviews, the BBC understands.
It has also said this to the League Managers' Association and the Professional Footballers' Association.
It comes after a number of players last night indicated they would not do post-match interviews with the BBC show, out of solidarity with Gary Lineker.
This may be the end of Lineker as a BBC presenter - Dyke
Asked what BBC Director General Tim Davie should do, Dyke says: "I don' t know how he gets out of this.
"It's quite clear Gary Lineker is not going to give him the assurances that he says he wants, therefore I suspect this is the end of Gary Lineker as a BBC presenter as we've known him, and I suspect it will have a long-term effect on Match of the Day."
BBC could be perceived as being under pressure - Dyke
GettyCopyright: Getty
Greg Dyke was the director-general of the BBC from 2000 to 2004Image caption: Greg Dyke was the director-general of the BBC from 2000 to 2004
Asked whether the BBC is being cowardly under pressure from the government, Dyke says the danger is the perception that it is.
The BBC has been under enormous pressure for about five years from this government, Dyke says, and the perception is going to be that Gary Lineker was taken off air after government pressure on a particular issue.
Dyke is asked about the controversy over BBC Chairman Richard Sharp and allegations that he helped facilitate a loan to former PM Boris Johnson.
Dyke says he knows and likes Sharp, and "he's probably a good chairman of the BBC" but says he thinks that that issue being around at the same time has helped fuel these perceptions.
He says that since last night's decision to ask Lineker to step back from presenting, a lot of people have rung him to say "isn't this ridiculous?".
The BBC has undermined its own credibility - Dyke
Greg Dyke is now asked about whether the BBC not being able to control its highest paid presenter is an issue.
The former director general says "the money to some extent is irrelevant" as Lineker could make “far more” if he went elsewhere.
"There is a long established precedent in the BBC that if you are an entertainment presenter or a sports presenter then you are not bound by those same rules," he says.
"The real problem today is that the BBC has undermined its own credibility by doing this."
He says it could create the impression that the "BBC has bowed to government pressure".
Live Reporting
Edited by Siobhan Toman
All times stated are UK
Lineker leaves home without comment
A short while ago Gary Lineker was spotted leaving his home.
Waiting media asked him how he felt about the controversy around his social media posts, and if his "career is over at the BBC".
Lineker did not respond to the questions, and was driven off in a car.
BreakingFinal Score replaced with The Repair Shop
Final Score has been replaced by The Repair Shop at 4:30pm on the BBC One schedule.
It comes after presenter Jason Mohammad said he would not be presenting the show.
Celebrities and activists show support for Lineker
A number of UK celebrities, prominent public figures and activists have come out in support of Gary Lineker, many of them using hashtag ImWithGary.
"Enough respect" tweeted musician and producer Fatboy Slim. He posted a clip from his Friday night gig in Manchester, where a giant photo of Gary Lineker was projected on a screen, to loud cheers.
Actor Reece Dinsdale tweeted: "He [Lineker] can comment on human rights in Qatar whilst presenting the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup but he can’t comment on the state of his OWN country’s government for himself. How does that balance up, then?"
Meanwhile, political activist Femi Oluwole has written many tweets on the issue: "The same BBC that refused to apologise for saying the N-word in a news report, thinks it has the right to censor or even fire Gary Lineker for his political views, in the name of political sensitivity. Give me a break!!!"
Author Philip Pullman tweeted that "my admiration for Gary Lineker, Ian Wright, and Alan Shearer is unbounded".
And The Mirror newspaper has started a petition, demanding that Lineker be reinstated by the BBC to the Match of the Day programme. More than 140,000 people have already signed it.
BreakingJason Mohammad will not present Final Score
Jason Mohammad, who presents another BBC football show, Final Score, has said he will not present it later today.
The programme normally airs at 16:30, to coincide with the end of football matches in the UK and summarise the results.
Writing on Twitter, he said the show is "very close to my heart".
"However - I have this morning informed the BBC that I will not be presenting the show this afternoon on BBC One."
BreakingFootball Focus replaced with Bargain Hunt
Here in the newsroom, we have not heard any official word on the fate of Football Focus after presenter Alex Scott pulled out of the show.
But the BBC One schedule is now showing Bargain Hunt at midday, when Football Focus had previously been listed.
Final Score is still listed at 16:30, even though host Jason Mohammad has said he will pull out.
Bristol Rovers support Gary Lineker
Bristol Rovers have become one of the first to address the controversy directly.
Writing on Twitter, the League One team says it "won’t be talking to the BBC before or after today’s game", including the hashtag '#WeStandWithGary' in its post.
Bristol Rovers are playing Forest Green away later today.
Members wanted to show their support - PFA
Earlier, we reported that the Premier League has told the 12 clubs playing today that their players and managers will not receive requests for Match of the Day interviews, the BBC understands.
A statement from the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has confirmed that - it's been informed that players will not be asked to do interviews with the show.
The PFA says its members "wanted to take a collective position and to be able to show their support for those who have chosen not to be part of tonight’s programme".
It adds that the union had made it clear it would "support all members who might face consequences for choosing not to complete their broadcast commitments".
I will not be presenting on BBC today - Kelly Somers
Sports presenter Kelly Somers has said she will not be appearing on the BBC today.
It comes after an earlier report in The Sun said she would be standing in for former England international Alex Scott in presenting Football Focus.
"Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today," she wrote on a tweet.
It doesn't feel right to go ahead - Alex Scott
Alex Scott has now tweeted about her decision not to front today's show."I made a decision last night that even though I love my show and we have had an incredible week winning an SJA for Football Focus that it doesn’t feel right for me to go ahead with the show today," the former Lioness says.
"Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week…" she adds.
BreakingAlex Scott pulls out of Football Focus
Alex Scott and other pundits have pulled out of presenting the Football Focus and Final Score programmes, in solidarity with Gary Lineker, the BBC understands.
The former Arsenal player, who has presented the popular Saturday show since 2021, pulled out just a few hours before it was due to go on air.
'BBC in a real mess' - Labour
Labour's Lucy Powell, the shadow secretary for digital, culture, media and sport, was on BBC Breakfast earlier.
She says the BBC has got itself "in a real mess" by "bowing to the Tory campaign to cancel somebody who disagreed with their views.
Challenged on whether it really is a Tory campaign, she says it's "clear for everyone to see" because of "ministers on the airwaves" being "boosted by friends in right-wing media".
She suggests the timing of the BBC asking Lineker to step down shows the BBC has "capitulated".
She says impartiality should mean showing independence to the government of the day, rather than focusing on individuals' comments unless they are in news and current affairs.
What's been happening?
If you're just joining us or need a recap, here's the latest on the row betwee the BBC and Gary Lineker over comments he made on social media:
'The BBC's reputation is bigger than any individual'
Richard Ayre, who was once the controller of BBC editorial policy, says it will be "a sad occasion for viewers" if Match of the Day has no pundits or commentators.
"It will be very sad if they can’t reconcile with Gary," he tells BBC Breakfast.
"He is superlative. He is absolutely extraordinarily good. Not just as a football pundit, but in my 50 or so years association with the BBC I have never come across a more naturally gifted television presenter.
"But frankly the BBC and its reputation is bigger and more important than any individual, even Gary."
Media gather outside Lineker's house
Hannah Bayman
BBC News
An assistant has just come out of Gary Lineker's house to take a delivery of food. They told us the man at the centre of this story is still asleep.
There are about a dozen press photographers and journalists here so far.
What has the BBC actually said?
Let's have a quick recap on what the BBC has said so far...
Yesterday, the broadcaster said it had asked Lineker to step back from presenting after "extensive discussions" with him.
The BBC 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".
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."
Also yesterday, BBC correspondent Nomia Iqbal approached Director General Tim Davie about the row.
Asked if he just kicked the issue further down the line, he said: “I think we’ve had very constructive discussions."
Video content
The BBC doesn't apply guidelines fairly - Baroness Wheatcroft
Baroness Patience Wheatcroft, a crossbench peer and former editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal Europe and The Sunday Telegraph, also commented on the issue to Radio 4's Today show.
She says she agrees "with everything Gary Lineker said".
"I find the rhetoric coming out of government about asylum seekers deeply, deeply depressing and unappealing. I can completely understand why Gary Lineker said what he did."
She adds "the problem is the BBC has guidelines but it doesn’t apply them fairly".
Premier League clubs told MOTD will not ask for interviews
Dan Roan
BBC sports editor
The Premier League has told the 12 clubs playing today that their players and managers will not receive requests for Match of the Day interviews, the BBC understands.
It has also said this to the League Managers' Association and the Professional Footballers' Association.
It comes after a number of players last night indicated they would not do post-match interviews with the BBC show, out of solidarity with Gary Lineker.
This may be the end of Lineker as a BBC presenter - Dyke
Asked what BBC Director General Tim Davie should do, Dyke says: "I don' t know how he gets out of this.
"It's quite clear Gary Lineker is not going to give him the assurances that he says he wants, therefore I suspect this is the end of Gary Lineker as a BBC presenter as we've known him, and I suspect it will have a long-term effect on Match of the Day."
BBC could be perceived as being under pressure - Dyke
Asked whether the BBC is being cowardly under pressure from the government, Dyke says the danger is the perception that it is.
The BBC has been under enormous pressure for about five years from this government, Dyke says, and the perception is going to be that Gary Lineker was taken off air after government pressure on a particular issue.
Dyke is asked about the controversy over BBC Chairman Richard Sharp and allegations that he helped facilitate a loan to former PM Boris Johnson.
Dyke says he knows and likes Sharp, and "he's probably a good chairman of the BBC" but says he thinks that that issue being around at the same time has helped fuel these perceptions.
He says that since last night's decision to ask Lineker to step back from presenting, a lot of people have rung him to say "isn't this ridiculous?".
The BBC has undermined its own credibility - Dyke
Greg Dyke is now asked about whether the BBC not being able to control its highest paid presenter is an issue.
The former director general says "the money to some extent is irrelevant" as Lineker could make “far more” if he went elsewhere.
"There is a long established precedent in the BBC that if you are an entertainment presenter or a sports presenter then you are not bound by those same rules," he says.
"The real problem today is that the BBC has undermined its own credibility by doing this."
He says it could create the impression that the "BBC has bowed to government pressure".