Gary Lineker latest news: BBC risks ‘silent Match of the Day’ as crisis deepens

The Prime Minister has commented on the controversy surrounding the BBC’s decision to take Gary Lineker off the air for the first time, saying it was “a matter for them, not the government”.

In a statement, Rishi Sunak said: “As Prime Minister, I must do what I see fit while respecting that not everyone will always agree. Because of this, I was unequivocal in my approach to stopping the boats.

“Gary Lineker was a great footballer and is a talented presenter. I hope that the current situation between Gary Lineker and the BBC can be resolved in a timely manner, but it is rightfully their business, not the government.”

In a statement, Rishi Sunak said: “As Prime Minister, I must do what I see fit while respecting that not everyone will always agree. Because of this, I was unequivocal in my approach to stopping the boats.

“Gary Lineker was a great footballer and is a talented presenter. I hope that the current situation between Gary Lineker and the BBC can be resolved in a timely manner, but it is rightly their business, not the government.

“As this process continues, it is important that we maintain perspective, especially given the seriousness of the issue at hand. 45,000 people crossed the Channel illegally last year, many of whom were exploited or trafficked by criminal gangs, putting their lives at risk.

“We need to break this cycle of misery once and for all and I believe the policy that we have set out this week is aimed at doing just that. Not only is it fair and moral, it’s also compassionate.

“There are no easy answers to solving this problem, but I believe leadership is about making difficult decisions to solve problems. I know not everyone will always agree, but I think that’s fair and right.”

The Prime Minister has commented on the controversy surrounding the BBC’s decision to take Gary Lineker off the air for the first time, saying it was “a matter for them, not the government”.

Scottish First Minister-to-be Humza Yousaf has accused the BBC of yielding to pressure from a “right-wing government” after former England striker Gary Lineker was taken off the air for comments on Twitter.

Other presenters and pundits then boycotted the show, as well as other sports programming on the BBC – leading to the company saying it would only air “limited sports programming” over the weekend.

But Mr Yousaf gave Lineker his support when he said the BBC “needs to look at itself long and hard”.

At a Hustings event in Glasgow, held as part of the competition to be the next SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, Mr Yousaf said the company had “mixed things up”.

The current Scottish Health Secretary said: “Gary Lineker not only hit the net with his refugee comments, he also scored a hat-trick. He was absolutely right.

“It seems that you can have free speech for the BBC by targeting the Conservatives, but you cannot have free speech by putting them down and speaking out about their despicable, immoral practices.”

He continued: “I am a supporter of public service broadcasting and I would be in an independent Scotland too.

“But my goodness, giving in to pressure from a right-wing government – the BBC needs to take a long, hard look at itself.”

The impact of the Gary Lineker dispute has spilled over into Scotland, where coverage of sport on radio and television has been affected.

A statement from BBC Scotland said: “Sportscene will air tonight on BBC One Scotland and BBC Scotland, with a modified format similar to current plans for Match of the Day.

“Part of the Sportsound slot on Radio Scotland has been replaced with pre-recorded material.

“We regret these changes which we recognize will be disappointing to BBC Sport fans. We are working hard to resolve the situation and hope to be able to do so soon.”

BBC Radio Wales was hit by the fact that the company had to cut back its sports programming as Rob Phillips’ show was withdrawn.

Call Rob Phillips, where the presenter shares listeners’ views on the latest in sporting events, has been replaced by a recorded gala concert celebrating 100 years of the BBC in Wales.

Broadcasting union Bectu said the BBC’s handling of the impartiality dispute with Gary Lineker was “extremely disappointing” and said it “is likely to prove disastrous for its reputation”.

Philippa Childs, leader of Bectu, said in a statement: “Bectu has always been a staunch defender of the BBC and we are very proud of the important work our members do every day. However, the company’s handling of this crisis has been extremely disappointing and will likely prove disastrous for its reputation.”

She added that the union body had previously written to the BBC’s chief executive about its concerns about the company’s chairman, Richard Sharp, who recently became embroiled in a cousin dispute for helping Boris Johnson secure an £800,000 loan facility to secure.

“Our members, and no doubt many others working at the BBC, will be rightly puzzled as to why those at the highest levels of the company seem immune to the strict guidelines that apply to everyone else,” she said.

“Our thoughts are with all BBC staff at a time that we know is incredibly challenging and we are here to support our members in any way we can.

“We understand the depth of the feelings and why some freelancers will choose not to work on BBC sports programs today or join the protests. The strength of sentiment from both employees and the public should show the company that addressing the issue was a massive misstep.”

The Sports Journalists’ Association (SJA) has said it “fully supports” the freedom of expression of its members and colleagues in the industry after BBC presenters and pundits were boycotted in support of Gary Lineker.

In a statement on Twitter, they said: “The Sports Journalists’ Association of Great Britain fully supports its members and industry peers on freedom of expression.

“The SJA would like to express its solidarity on this matter and will continue to monitor developments in the BBC and Gary Lineker story.”

The BBC’s sporting director has apologized to his staff following the ongoing turmoil surrounding today’s Match Of The Day line-up.

Barbara Slater, the company’s sporting director, confirmed the BBC could only air “limited sports programming” this weekend following an ongoing dispute with Gary Lineker over the terms of his contract.

“We regret the impact the news of Gary Lineker and Match Of The Day is having across the department this weekend,” the letter said.

“We understand how worrying this is for all of you – the BBC Sport staff and our freelance community – and we understand the strength of the feelings this issue has provoked.

“We have just released a statement to confirm that we are only able to offer a limited sports program this weekend and our schedules are being updated to reflect this. We know the changes we are making to programming will be disappointing for BBC Sport fans and the Sport team.

“Individual department heads and senior editors will update teams where possible. So if you have specific questions about your role, please reach out to your line manager.

“We are working hard to resolve the situation and will let you know as soon as possible.

“Thank you for your continued hard work and professionalism.”

The BBC fears it cannot fire Gary Lineker or force him to follow social media rules on impartiality due to ambiguities in his contract. The Independent understands.

Lineker, who was forced off the air after comparing the government’s asylum policy to Nazi Germany on Twitter, is said to have a two-year deal that was negotiated ahead of the appointment of current director-general Tim Davie.

Mr Davie has repeatedly stressed the importance of the BBC’s impartiality and has cited a crackdown on BBC stars who have made political comments on social media.

But Lineker’s contract was already in effect and hasn’t been updated, giving the presenter an important advantage as the dispute heats up.