Image source, PA Media

Gary Lineker is contracted at the BBC until 2025, and on top of hosting Match of the Day also fronts the BBC's coverage of major football tournaments and co-presents BBC Sports Personality Of The Year.

He also works as a presenter on LaLigaTV, which covers football in Spain for viewers in the UK and Ireland.

The media company he co-founded - Goalhanger Podcasts - produces The Rest Is Politics, a regular political discussion show featuring former Labour aide Alastair Campbell and ex-Tory minister Rory Stewart.

He has worked for other broadcasters, including a stint presenting the Champions League for BT Sport, and is also widely known as the face of Walker's Crisps, a business founded in his home town of Leicester.

More political reaction to bring you this time from Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport who points to another recent controversy surrounding BBC chairman Richard Sharp and him allegedly facilitating a £800,000 loan for the ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

It is an allegation Sharp has denied saying he has never given Johnson any advice.

Reacting to the announcement over Lineker's position, Labour's Lucy Powell tweets: "This feels like an over reaction brought on by a right-wing media frenzy obsessed with undermining the BBC.

"I note the same cries of impartiality were totally absent when the BBC Chair failed to disclose aspects of his close friendship with the then PM."

A brief line to bring you from the government which has distanced itself from the BBC's decision over Gary Lineker.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson says: "Individual cases are a matter for the BBC."

Match of the Day pundit and One Show presenter Jermaine Jenas has added his voice to the debate about who could front the programme instead of Gary Lineker tomorrow.

"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," he wrote on Twitter, external.

Image source, PA Media

More on the spotlight surrounding the BBC chairman Richard Sharp who was named as the government's preferred candidate in January 2021 and at the time the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee backed his appointment.

The government's choice is ultimately decided by the prime minister, on the advice of the culture secretary, who is in turn advised by a panel.

But, this year Sharp found himself at the core of some controversy involving allegations he helped facilitate a £800,000 loan for the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

It followed a series of reports in the Sunday Times centred on events in late 2020, when Johnson was reported to be in financial difficulty.

Sharp has repeatedly said he did not help arrange a guarantee on the loan or give Johnson financial advice.

But, last month the DCMS Committee published a critical report, external, concluding he should not have become involved in the facilitation of a loan while applying for the BBC job.

Veteran BBC broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby expressed his view that Sharp should stand down, however he has not resigned.

Bectu - the union that represents thousands of staff and freelancers across the UK's creative industries - says the BBC's decision to stand Gary Lineker down from presenting Match of the Day tomorrow is "deeply concerning".

In a statement, union head Philippa Childs says the decision "will give the appearance that the [BBC has] bowed to political pressure from ministers to take someone off air for disagreeing with the policies of the current government."

She states that this, combined with the "ongoing controversy" concerning the appointment of the BBC chairman Richard Sharp, who "has a much more important role in upholding the reputation of the BBC, and who has not stepped back while under investigation" also "risks giving the impression of double standards on these issues."

Listeners of BBC Radio 5Live have been calling in to give a range of views on the BBC's announcement over Gary Lineker.

Cheryl in Peterborough thinks “it’s disproportionate”.

“He put something on his private account on Twitter. If you don’t like what he stands for, you can unfollow him, he doesn’t talk about stuff like this on MOTD.”

“It’s all becoming a bit disproportionate. What we’ve done is turning it into how much he earns.”

James in Bristol says: “Gary Lineker seems to be pushing the boundaries all the time. Impartiality should be absolutely vital for the BBC.”

Peter in Woodford Green was surprised when it happened.

“The idea that Gary Lineker has been the main focus of the news for the last three days seems completely disproportionate to what he said.”

“He should be allowed to say what he wants to say, he is not saying it on Match of the Day. He is saying it on Twitter, lots of people say things on Twitter. Gary should be able to say what he thinks about the policy.”

Match of the Day commentator Steve Wilson has waded into the debate, stating that the focus should be on the the "tragedy" of asylum seekers "struggling to find sanctuary", rather than Gary Lineker's position on the programme.

"So sad that this has become the story rather than the tragedy of human beings struggling to find sanctuary," he writes in a tweet, external.

"Having taken in refugees himself, Gary has surely earned the right to express his opinion.

The BBC will now come under a "torrent of criticism" from people who think it is acting "at the government's behest", the BBC's former controller of editorial policy has said.

Richard Ayre, tells BBC Radio 4's PM programme that the BBC had "no choice" but to take action against Lineker after his tweets criticising the government's asylum policy.

"He [Lineker] has the letters BBC written across his forehead and yet he's plunged right into the most controversial story of the day," he says.

"The fact is this was an immediate issue which Tim Davie, the Director General, couldn't sit on over the weekend, he had to solve it this week.

"He's clearly tried to solve it and reach an agreement with Gary Lineker, they've failed, so this has been the BBC decision. Whether this story moves on depends on what Gary Lineker says himself in the next few hours.

"It's inevitable now that, having in effect not sacked him but removed him temporarily at least, the BBC will come under a torrent of criticism saying it's acting under the government's behest."

Match of the Day pundit Micah Richards is the latest to say he will not be appearing on tomorrow's programme.

"I was not due to be working on MOTD tomorrow, but if I was, I would find myself taking the same decision that @IanWright0, external & @alanshearer, external have," he wrote on Twitter, external.

Adam Fleming
Newscast presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Former BBC presenter Andrew Neil says the corporation is right to agree new rules with Gary Lineker for his use of social media.

“It’s currently not working,” he tells the Newscast podcast from New York.

But he raises the prospect of the sports presenter leaving if he feels his free speech is being infringed.

Andrew Neil, who now presents a political programme on Channel 4, described the BBC’s impartiality drive as “a work in progress, going in the right direction".

Alex Scott has appeared to hint that she will join fellow pundits Alan Shearer and Ian Wright in not appearing on tomorrow's Match of the Day programme.

The former Arsenal and Lionesses player tweeted, external a GIF of US politician Bernie Sanders saying "Nah! Not me" with the caption: "FYI..."

Some more reaction to bring you - this time from the Chief Sports Writer at The Times.

In a series of tweets Henry Winter writes: "Disappointing that coverage of Match of the Day dictated by politicians.

"Not what BBC should be about. BBC should be ashamed.

"Should be independent of No 10. Ian Wright replaced by Ian Duncan-Smith?

"Many good people working for BBC football who deserve better from their craven bosses.

Writer and strategist Alastair Campbell says the BBC's decision "is driven by an utterly craven political cowardice at the top of the BBC".

Speaking on the BBC News Channel, Campbell, who worked as former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair's press secretary and director of communications, says: "Let's be absolutely frank about this... it's been made pretty clear to Gary Lineker he's not going to be presenting Match of the Day because he's not toeing the line."

He states that the BBC have put him in an "utterly insidious position" and thinks it is unlikely Lineker will be able to reach an agreement with the broadcaster.

He adds that Ian Wright has "done the right thing", after tweeting that he would not be appearing on Match of the Day either tomorrow.

"Ian Wright has done the right thing in saying: 'I will not stand by while somebody gets treated so unfairly by political cowards at the top of the BBC'."

Campbell features on the podcast The Rest Is Politics, which is produced by the media company Lineker co-founded, Goalhanger Podcasts.

Politicians from all sides are giving their views on the BBC's decision to stand Gary Lineker down from hosting duties on Match Of The Day.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called the move "indefensible".

"It is undermining free speech in the face of political pressure - & it does always seem to be right wing pressure it caves to," she tweeted.

Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries tweeted that the decision "shows BBC are serious about impartiality".

"Gary is entitled to his views - free speech is paramount. Lots of non Public Service Broadcasters can accommodate him and his views and he would be better paid," she added.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is MP for Islington North tweeted: "Well done Gary Lineker for standing up for refugees. Well done Ian Wright for showing the meaning of solidarity.

"Now, let's mobilise against a politics of cruelty, and defeat this inhumane, illegal & immoral legislation."

Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer says he will also not appear on tomorrow's Match of the Day programme.

"I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night," he tweeted, external.

Ian Wright had already tweeted to say he would not be appearing.

Marita Moloney
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

It's been less than two hours since we heard that the BBC has asked Gary Lineker to step back from presenting Match of the Day.

The reaction has been coming thick and fast, so here's a recap on the latest:

The top line: The BBC said it considered Lineker's recent social media use to be a breach of its guidelines, and he would remain off air until a "clear position" is reached on this issue.

What's the debate about?: Lineker tweeted about the government's new Illegal Migration Bill on Monday, comparing the language used to launch the policy with "that used by Germany in the 30s". It raised questions about the BBC's impartiality rules.

Solidarity: MOTD pundit Ian Wright said he would be boycotting Saturday's programme in "solidarity" with Lineker, a sentiment echoed by some fans calling for the presenter's reinstatement. A petition calling for the same has been launched, and #IStandWithGary is now trending on Twitter.

Political reaction: There's been reaction from Westminster too, with Labour criticising the move, and one Tory MP hinting that Lineker's comments that initiated the debate this week were "deeply tasteless".

Any Lineker reaction?: No, he hasn't spoken publicly since the news was announced.

Who'll replace him?: That also isn't clear just yet, but stay with us and we'll bring you updates on what we know.

Conservative MP and former culture secretary Sir John Whittingdale says the BBC's decision was "inevitable".

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's PM programme, Sir John says: "I think it was inevitable.

"The problem is that Gary Lineker has made it clear that he wants to go on tweeting his views.

"And he's of course entitled to hold his views, but the problem is that he is also a very highly - indeed the highest paid - person working for the BBC and is closely associated with the BBC.

"And I'm afraid those two things are not compatible".

He says Lineker "has got to decide that if he wants to go on expressing his views as strongly as he does... he's not entitled to express them at the same time that he is very closely associated with the BBC."

Katie Razzall
Culture editor

Image source, Reuters

As the UK's most scrutinised media organisation in increasingly polarised times, to say Gary Lineker's recent tweets cause difficulty for the BBC is an understatement.

The director general, Tim Davie, has made impartiality a key platform of his leadership.

Trust in the corporation is at the heart of this. It matters if the public believes its public service broadcaster doesn't represent their views, or that the BBC is shaped by a particular perspective.

If a news presenter commented, as Lineker has done, about the government's asylum policies, or about Brexit for example, they would at the very least receive a very serious warning.

Lineker, as somebody associated with sport for the BBC, and who argues he is a freelancer, is in a different position.

He added that the BBC rules "only apply to people in news and current affairs".

From the outside, it can appear more complicated.

Perceptions on impartiality matter, but it's also clear that impartiality can be politicised by people who have an agenda against the BBC.

As it navigates the demands of its editorial standards, its talent and its audiences, the BBC is walking a tightrope.

Read Katie's full analysis from earlier this week here.

Emily Maitlis, who presented the BBC's Newsnight programme before departing last year, has also been sharing her reaction.

"I’m not sure when they suggested to Gary Lineker he step back from MOTD the BBC realised it might be starting a much much bigger battle. Ian Wright refusing to present on Saturday. In the name of solidarity," she tweeted., external