Matt Le Tissier condemns Ian Wright, labelling his solidarity with Gary Lineker as 'contradictory'

Ian Wright has showed his support for Gary Lineker by pulling out of today's Match of the Day broadcast, following Lineker's controversial tweets.

The 62-year-old Lineker has been suspended from the legendary football show after apparently breaching the BBC's 'social media guidelines', after he compared the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany.

Fellow MOTD presenter Alan Shearer also announced his intention to step back from his role as a pundit.

Former Southampton striker Matt Le Tissier initially hit out at Lineker for 'virtue signalling,' but also seemed to support Lineker, saying on Twitter that, "Gary should be entitled to his own opinion unless his contract with the BBC says otherwise."

Ian Wright and Alan Shearer have stepped back from presenting tonight's program. (PA Images)

Le Tissier has now criticised Wright for not showing the same level of support for him when he was sacked as one of the pundits of Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday show in 2020.

Speaking to GB News, he said: "It's really interesting as Ian is taking a stand for his mate and fellow TV worker. But what's really interesting about it is that if you go back three years and have a look at the reaction of Ian Wright to the sacking of myself, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas and you will see that reaction is completely contradictory to the way he acted to this."

LIVE UPDATES: BBC show goes ahead without Gary Lineker with Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City highlights

"So it's all very well to take this stand, but let's show a little bit of consistency Wrighty.

"If you're watching you know what I'm on about. He certainly didn't stand in solidarity with the three of us.

"It was a case of old people that have had their time and it's time to move onto some younger people. It was along those lines."

The decision to suspend Lineker from presenting MOTD has led to disarray in the show's production team with fellow presenters, pundits and commentators refusing to take part, leaving the BBC in turmoil.

Image: Alamy

Wright was the first person to publicly support Lineker following the decision, stating that he would not take part in the show, 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."

At the time of Le Tissier's sacking, Wright did share his thoughts on the matter, saying that the former Saints striker, Nicholas and Thompson had an "unbelievable run" and wished them all the best.

He commented: "Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson, they've had an unbelievable run, it's been a great show. This happens to everyone in the industry."

Early this morning, it was announced that Football Focus and Final Score would not air tonight, after the BBC announced their intention to go ahead with MOTD tonight with no presenters, with a focus on the games and highlights instead of the analysis.