Ian Wright threatens to quit the BBC if Gary Lineker is sacked over social media comments

Ian Wright has said he will threaten to quit the BBC for good if the organisation sack Gary Lineker.

Lineker has been forced to step back over his social media comments criticising the government's new asylum policy and comparing the language used to Nazi Germany.

The BBC claimed Lineker's tweet was a "breach of our guidelines" and he was pulled from his Match of the Day hosting commitments until an agreement is reached on his social media activity.

Image: PA

However, regular MOTD pundit Wright pledged solidarity with Lineker and said he would be boycotting the show in response to the decision.

The same stance was adopted by Alan Shearer, who was also set to feature on the Saturday night programme.

And the pair have kickstarted a revolution of BBC boycotting. Alex Scott pulled out of hosting Football Focus, leading to the programme being axed - with Final Score also taken off their after Jason Mohammad told his employers he would not be fronting the show.

BBC 5 live's radio coverage has also been hit, with Match of the Day 2 presenter Mark Chapman stepping down from his Saturday duties and the Fighting Talk with Colin Murray also not happening.

Wright followed up his initial tweet by doubling down and making it clear just how strongly he feels on the issue. The Arsenal legend leapt to Lineker's defence and says he will be "gone" if the 62-year-old is given the boot.

“That is the distraction and let me tell you something, if the BBC do get rid of Gary Lineker I am out," he said on his podcast Wrighty's House.

"I am gone, I am not staying there. On his own platform, he should be able to say what he wants to say.

“Gary Lineker, he says stuff on everything and it’s almost like this one has missed everybody simply because he says so much but this is so right what he is saying. I have spoken to Gary, I am behind him.

“He wrote a tweet about everything that has been happening with the human rights issues and everything here and it’s the perfect distraction for this government. Gary’s tweet was the headline news, it’s like they need Gary Lineker to distract everybody. For me, it's a human issue, it’s not political."

Image: PA

The BBC have said Match of the Day will still air but without a presenter, pundits or studio presentation.

A slew of the usual commentators have refused to describe the action, with Conor McNamara and Steve Wilson both putting posts out as commentary is expected to come from the world feed.

And there will also be no interviews with Premier League players or managers, meaning it will just be purely highlights show.

Topics: Gary Lineker, Ian Wright, Match Of The Day, Alan Shearer

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. 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 interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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