• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Gary Lineker is stepping back from Match of the Day hosting duties, the BBC confirm

Home> Football

Updated 17:28 10 Mar 2023 GMTPublished 16:46 10 Mar 2023 GMT

breaking

Gary Lineker is stepping back from Match of the Day hosting duties, the BBC confirm

Gary Lineker is stepping back from position as Match of the Day host following on from his recent social media activity.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Gary Lineker is stepping back from his role as Match of the Day host, the BBC have confirmed.

The former England and Spurs striker has hosted the highlights show regularly for a number of years now but will not be presenting the Saturday night programme until an agreement into his social media activity is reached.

It follows Lineker's Twitter comments on the government's new asylum policy. Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced plans to stop migrant boats crossing the English Channel and Lineker was extremely critical.

Advert

"Good heavens, this is beyond awful," Lineker wrote.

When a user said his comments were out of order, Lineker hit back and compared the language used to Nazi Germany.

He tweeted: “This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in a language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I'm out of order?”

The post is still up and has not been deleted by Lineker, who also refused to apologise amid the backlash from Conservative MPs.

Advert

In response, the BBC stressed that the former Barcelona player should "keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies" as the row over impartiality and neutrality rages on.

Image: Alamy
Image: Alamy

In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC 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.

Advert

"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.

"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."

Image: Alamy
Image: Alamy

Lineker is a freelancer with the BBC and not a full-time employee. He had thanked fans for their support of late and said he was looking forward to putting the media storm behind him by hosting Match of the Day this weekend.

Advert

He posted: “Happy that this ridiculously out of proportion story seems to be abating and very much looking forward to presenting [Match of the Day] on Saturday. Thanks again for all your incredible support. It’s been overwhelming."

There is no word on a replacement at the time of writing, though Mark Chapman, who presents Match of the Day 2 on Sunday, would appear to be the main contender.

The Illegal Migration Bill which Lineker has expressed his opinion about is to be debated in Parliament on Monday 13 March.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: Gary Lineker, Match Of The Day

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 hours ago
4 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • 2 hours ago

    Diogo Jota's family make request to well-wishers at Liverpool star's funeral as club and national team-mates attend

    Jota's funeral is taking place in his hometown of Gondomar on Saturday.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Jude Bellingham shares heartfelt update on Trent Alexander-Arnold following death of his former team-mate Diogo Jota

    The Real Madrid defender spent five years alongside the Portugal star at Liverpool.

    Football
  • 4 hours ago

    Arsenal release statement after Thomas Partey charged with rape

    Partey has been charged by the Metropolitan Police with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

    Football
  • 5 hours ago

    Alisson reveals reason why he won't be able to attend Diogo Jota's funeral in tribute to his team-mate

    Jota's funeral is being held on Saturday after the Liverpool forward was killed in a car crash alongside his brother on Thursday.

    Football
  • Gary Lineker email sent to all BBC staff emerges after Match of the Day exit confirmed
  • Gary Lineker gives major update on Match of the Day future after 'natural successor' Jermaine Jenas is sacked by the BBC
  • New surprise name enters race to replace Gary Lineker as Match of the Day host
  • Gary Lineker 'makes final decision' over Match of the Day future amid successor claims