Gavin Mackintosh-
BBC television presenter , Gary Lineker, is to step back from presenting Match of the Day until an agreement is reached on his social media use, the BBC has said.
The television presenter’s step back follows an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the government’s new asylum policy. Lineka had arrogantly said he looked forward to presenting the next match of the day following the uproar resulting from his controversial comments on social media.
The BBC said it considered Lineker’s “recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines”.
It added he should “keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies”.
The BBC said it had been in “extensive discussions with Gary and team in recent days” and “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”.
It continued: “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.”
Fellow pundit Ian Wright said he will not appear in “solidarity”, tweeting: “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity.”
On Tuesday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman outlined the government’s plans to ban people arriving in the UK illegally from ever claiming asylum, in a bid to address a rise in the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats.
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”.
Ms Braverman hit out at Lineker’s tweet, saying it “diminishes the unspeakable tragedy” of the Holocaust.
Speaking on the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast, the home secretary said the Nazi comparison was “lazy and unhelpful” and said her family “feel very keenly the impact of the Holocaust” as her husband is Jewish.
The corporation said in a statement it 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 statement added.
“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.”
The statement continued: “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.”
Bectu, a union which represents thousands of BBC workers, said the corporation’s decision was “deeply concerning”.
Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu, said it gives 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 added: “Taken with the ongoing controversy over the appointment of the BBC Chairman, who has a much more important role in upholding the reputation of the BBC, and who has not stepped back while under investigation, it also risks given the impression of double standards on these issues.”
The corporation said in a statement it 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 statement added.
“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.”
The statement continued: “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.”
Bectu, a union which represents thousands of BBC workers, said the corporation’s decision was “deeply concerning”.
Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu, said it gives 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 added: “Taken with the ongoing controversy over the appointment of the BBC Chairman, who has a much more important role in upholding the reputation of the BBC, and who has not stepped back while under investigation, it also risks given the impression of double standards on these issues.”
The union clearly misses the point being made by the BBC for its presenter not to participate in controversial politics.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the proposals saying stopping the arrival of small boats is a “priority” for the British people.
Lineker has hosted Match of the Day since 1999 and is the BBC’s highest paid star, having earned about £1.35m in 2020-21.
The ex- England football star has previously accommodated asylum seekers, and publicly called for better rights and protections for refugees and been critical of successive Conservative governments over issues including Brexit.
As a television sports pundit, Lineka has failed to realise he is not a political commentator, and therefore cannot have his cake and eat it.
The decision for him to withdraw until further notice is good.
Well done BBC!