• 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
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak breaks silence after BBC suspend Gary Lineker amid impartiality row

Home> Football

Published 11:57 12 Mar 2023 GMT

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak breaks silence after BBC suspend Gary Lineker amid impartiality row

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised suspended BBC host Gary Lineker as a “great footballer” and as a “talented presenter.”

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has offered his two cents on the high-profile public row over impartiality between former England striker Gary Lineker and the BBC.

The BBC pulled Lineker from its flagship Match of the Day football programme and suspended the former Barcelona and Tottenham star over a divisive tweet.

Lineker on Tuesday took to Twitter and brutally slammed the UK government’s proposals to tackle migrants who have crossed the Channel on small boats.

Advert

The 62-year-old English presenter pulled no punches towards the Illegal Migration Bill -- the government’s divisive asylum policy -- and hit out at the rhetoric of the scheme.

“There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries,” Lineker tweeted.

“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the ’30s.”

Advert

Speaking after Lineker’s suspension, Sunak said that he is hopeful that the BBC and English presenter’s current standoff “can be resolved in a timely manner.”

“As Prime Minister, I have to do what I believe is right, respecting that not everyone will always agree,” he said in a statement.

“That is why I have been unequivocal in my approach to stopping the boats.

“Gary Lineker was a great footballer and is a talented presenter.

Advert

“I hope that the current situation between Gary Lineker and the BBC can be resolved in a timely manner, but it is rightly a matter for them, not the Government.

“While that process is ongoing, it is important that we maintain perspective, particularly given the seriousness of the issue at hand.

“Forty-five thousand people crossed the channel illegally last year, many of whom have been exploited or trafficked by criminal gangs, putting their lives in danger.

“We need to break this cycle of misery once and for all and the policy we set out this week I believe aims to do just that.

Advert

“It is not only the fair and moral thing to do, it is also the compassionate thing to do.

“There are no easy answers to solving this problem, but I believe leadership is about taking the tough decisions to fix problems.

“I know not everyone will always agree, but I do believe this is fair and right.”

READ MORE:

  • Fans claim BBC ‘broke its own rules’ in broadcast of ‘Premier League Highlights’ show after Gary Lineker’s suspension
  • BBC could make U-turn on Gary Lineker suspension as presenter set for return to Match of the Day
  • Over 175,000 people have signed petition for Gary Lineker to be put back on air as MOTD presenter
Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Gary Lineker, Football

Adnan Riaz
Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

X

@AdnanRiaz9

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 6 hours ago

    Why Diogo Jota's funeral will take place so soon after Liverpool star's tragic death as details revealed

    A funeral for the late Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva will take place two days after the tragic accident.

    Football
  • 8 hours ago

    Andy Robertson pays beautiful tribute to 'buddy' Diogo Jota after Liverpool star's tragic death

    Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva lost their lives in a car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning.

    Football
  • 9 hours ago

    Trent Alexander-Arnold releases emotional statement following death of former team-mate Diogo Jota

    Trent Alexander-Arnold paid tribute to Diogo Jota after his tragic death was confirmed on Thursday morning.

    Football
  • 10 hours ago

    Arne Slot releases heartfelt statement following tragic death of Diogo Jota

    Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash in Spain in the early hours of Thursday morning.

    Football
  • Gary Lineker hasn't spoken to fellow sports presenter for 10 years after huge feud over 'stolen job' at the BBC
  • Gary Lineker breaks silence after quitting BBC over antisemitism row
  • Gary Lineker breaks silence on his Match of the Day future live on BBC amid 'exit' rumours
  • Ian Wright moves past Gary Lineker to become highest-paid football pundit as staggering wealth revealed amid Eni Aluko row