BBC football Gary Lineker

When the BBC's director general, Tim Davie, took over in 2020, he declared his founding principle to be "impartiality". Three years later, a row over that ...

Indeed, there is a statue outside the BBC's headquarters in London of the author of 1984, George Orwell, a former BBC talks producer. Eighty years after Orwell left the BBC, the corporation finds itself in a deepening crisis. He has denied any involvement in arranging the loan. The question is whether that rule is being fairly applied. Twitter is awash with examples of what some people think are presenters who have gone too far over recent years. The passions provoked by Lineker's political tweets and the decision to keep him off air until he and the BBC resolve this issue has poured petrol on a fire that was already well alight, the debate about the BBC's role in British politics and perceptions of bias both to the left and the right.

Saturdays sports coverage on the BBC heavily disrupted after presenters and commentators pulled out in solidarity with Gary Lineker; Match of the Day ...

Why are sections of the media and the press just focussing on Lineker? "What about another member of the BBC board, Sir Robbie Gibb. "Now, the rules are a little bit different depending on what area of the BBC you work in. He is somebody who has helped to arrange an £800,000 loan for the former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "So, there are a lot of people coming to the support of Lineker and saying why is it that he is being picked on? "But of course, Lineker doesn't work in news or current affairs. For instance, if you work in news and current affairs as a journalist, the rules are very strict. We expect these individuals to avoid taking sides on party political issues or political controversies and to take care when addressing public policy matters." Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he hopes the BBC can resolve its row with Lineker in a "timely manner" but the dispute is not something the government should get involved in. And we understand the strength of feeling which has been generated by this issue. On his own platform he should be able to say what he wants to say." "As a keen sports fan, I know to miss programming is a real blow and I'm sorry about that.

The BBC's live coverage of Sunday's WSL game between Chelsea and Manchester United will go ahead - but there will be no presenter as pundits continue to ...

Speaking on Saturday night, Davie said: "I'm sorry audiences have been affected and they haven't got the programming. He added: "Everyone wants to calmly resolve [the] situation. Scott is a regular host of the BBC's WSL coverage but has already outlined her stance on the broadcaster's handling of Lineker. We are working very hard to resolve this situation and make sure we get output on air." [WSL](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/womens-super-league) game between [Chelsea](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/chelsea-fc) and [Manchester United,](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/manchester-united-fc) which is due to be shown live on the [BBC,](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/bbc) looks set to air without a presenter or pundits as the corporation continues to be [plagued by the fallout](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gary-lineker-motd-bbc-live-29429582) from their decision to axe [Gary Lineker.](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/gary-lineker) [Alex Scott](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/alex-scott) and [Mark Chapman,](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/mark-chapman) [refused to work on Saturday](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/motd-lineker-wright-shearer-scott-29428282) in solidarity with Lineker - leaving the broadcaster with [little option but to pull Football Focus and Final Score](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-alex-scott-football-focus-29430324) from their weekend schedule. [grovelling apology](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-gary-lineker-tim-davie-29433521) by BBC director general Tim Davie. Away from Sunday's match, which is due to kick off at 12:30pm, it remains to be seen whether Match of the Day 2 will go ahead after Chapman, the show's regular host, pulled out of his role on BBC Radio 5 Live on Saturday afternoon. [Manchester United](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/manchester-united-fc) is expected to be impacted by the crisis that has engulfed the BBC over the past 48 hours. The disruption to Sunday's coverage will come as a major blow to the BBC - the meeting between Chelsea and Manchester United a pivotal one, with the Red Devils currently just a solitary point ahead of Emma Hayes' side at the top of the WSL. [BBC](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/bbc) announced in a statement on Friday that the Match of the Day host would be ["stepping back" from his role ](https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/breaking-gary-lineker-stepping-back-29427110)after breaching the broadcaster's guidelines with comments he made on social media criticising the government's new Migration Bill. While there were 'major concerns' over the broadcast going ahead at all, the game from Kingsmeadow is expected to be aired on BBC 2 on Sunday lunchtime - albeit without any presentation.

It is hoped there will be a resolution soon but not all issues are "fully resolved", BBC News understands.

He later tweeted: "Dad is a good man, a good human, and I'm proud of him for standing by his word. He has denied any involvement in the arrangement of a loan for Mr Johnson. But he will always speak up for people who don't have a voice." and that if you attack the captain, the others are going to withdraw their labour." Mr Sharp has resisted calls to quit. Mr Davie told BBC News on Saturday he was in "listening mode" about how to reform impartiality rules for staff outside of the news operation after a "difficult day".

Disruption to sports programming continues into second day as pressure grows on BBC chairman Richard Sharp.

She said the BBC had created a “wholly unnecessary crisis” in its handling of Lineker’s tweets. Freelance and staff journalists and presenters at the BBC have been put in a stressful and invidious position this weekend, with no sign of this crisis abating.” Football Focus and Final Score were cancelled, and Match of the Day was reduced to a 20-minute compilation of highlights without punditry or analysis. Viewing figures on Sunday revealed that the Match of the Day audience remained relatively unchanged from the previous weekend, at 2.6 million viewers. He suggested his father could leave the BBC at the end of his contract in 2025. She told Times Radio that Sharp’s role was “pretty untenable”.

Pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer and regular commentators say they will not appear on Saturday.

He is employed by the BBC on a freelance basis. "The BBC is not acting impartially by caving in to Tory MPs who are complaining about Gary Lineker," he told broadcasters at Welsh Labour's conference in Llandudno. He said the government should focus on fixing the asylum system rather than "whingeing on" about Lineker and accused BBC bosses of bowing to pressure from ministers. Lineker reacted to it on Twitter calling it an "immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s". Mr Dyke warned the move could create the impression that the "BBC has bowed to government pressure". "The real problem today is that the BBC has undermined its own credibility by doing this," he told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Chris Sutton expressed his sadness on social media on Saturday night after his Radio 5 Live phone-in show was cancelled to show solidarity with Match of the ...

[Premier League](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/premier-league) fixtures scheduled and it appears unlikely that Match of the Day 2, which is usually hosted by Chapman, will go ahead after he pulled out of 5 Live duties on Saturday. Gary Lineker’s the best in the business - that’s not for debate." The Corporation chief apologised for any inconveniences caused by Saturday's disrupted schedule, saying: "I’m sorry audiences have been affected and they haven’t got the programming. The short highlights show was slammed by fans online after it aired on Saturday night. The former Celtic striker tweeted: "There is no 606 tonight. [appeared to offer an olive branch to Lineker](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-gary-lineker-tim-davie-29433521) on Saturday night when he admitted that his priority was to get the Match of the Day host back on air. "Everyone wants to calmly resolve [the] situation. There is also believed to be concern over the big WSL game between [Chelsea](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/chelsea-fc) and [Manchester United,](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/manchester-united-fc) which is due to be shown live. [BBC](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/bbc) Sport pundit [Chris Sutton](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/chris-sutton) has admitted that he would have "loved" to do his usual role on the 606 phone-in after the broadcaster was forced to [pull a host of scheduled shows](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gary-lineker-motd-bbc-live-29429582) on Saturday. [Robbie Savage,](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/robbie-savage) confessed that he was sad to be missing out on carrying out his usual duties in light of the "messy" stand-off between the BBC and Lineker. [Ian Wright](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/ian-wright) and [Alan Shearer](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/alan-shearer) decided against appearing on Saturday's broadcast, other BBC Sport regulars, including Alex Scott and Mark Chapman, [refused to go on air](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-alex-scott-football-focus-29430324) in solidarity with Lineker. [remove Gary Lineker from his role on Match of the Day](https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/breaking-gary-lineker-stepping-back-29427110) in the wake of [comments he directed at the government's new Migration Bill](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-gary-lineker-government-bbc-29402379) on social media earlier this week was met with a furious backlash from fans and several of Lineker's colleagues.

The disruption sparked by Lineker's suspension is set to impact Match of the Day 2 and live Women's Super League action.

It is hoped there will be a resolution soon but not all issues are "fully resolved", BBC News understands.

He later tweeted: "Dad is a good man, a good human, and I'm proud of him for standing by his word. He has denied any involvement in the arrangement of a loan for Mr Johnson. But he will always speak up for people who don't have a voice." and that if you attack the captain, the others are going to withdraw their labour." Mr Sharp has resisted calls to quit. Mr Davie told BBC News on Saturday he was in "listening mode" about how to reform impartiality rules for staff outside of the news operation after a "difficult day".

The Women's Super League airs without presenters, as staff stand in solidarity with Gary Lineker.

The bill would allow the UK government to detain and remove asylum seekers arriving via illegal routes. Thanks for the support." It's a bit of a grey area about what he can and cannot say. Quote Message: It's a bit of a grey area about what he can and cannot say. The post quoted a passage from Shakespeare's play Sir Thomas More Nobel Literature laureate Kazuo Ishiguro also backed Lineker, telling the BBC's Entertainment Correspondent Colin Paterson: "I think he's become one of the really important cultural figures for the country. This would be a clear breach of the Refugee Convention and would undermine a longstanding, humanitarian tradition of which the British people are rightly proud." I think he stands for really good things. She used the hashtag #IStandWithGary Quote Message: This would be a clear breach of the Refugee Convention and would undermine a longstanding, humanitarian tradition of which the British people are rightly proud." "I know you'll all appreciate this is a difficult time for BBC Sport and for all those who work in the department, and we hope it all gets resolved as soon as possible," he said. "I have a lot of sympathy for Tim Davie, the Director General, who's trying to maintain impartiality for the BBC in a partisan age.

Executives race to resolve Match of the Day presenter standoff as senior Tories stop short of backing Richard Sharp on impartiality.

Peter Salmon, a former controller of BBC One and director of sport, said the row was a “mess” and urged Davie to take control of the situation. It later emerged that he had been taken off the airwaves. The 31-year-old wrote on Twitter: “Shouldn’t need to apologise for being a good person and standing by his word. The culture select committee of MPs condemned Sharp for failing to publicly divulge his role. “I think he, at this stage, should be reflecting on whether he’s able to do that very important job,” she told Times Radio. Lineker has said he will not apologise for the tweet, which compared the language used around migration to that in 1930s Germany.

BBC sport presenter Gary Lineker was suspended after criticising the British government's new asylum policy. Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v ...

“We are working hard to resolve the situation and hope to do so soon.” “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,” he said in a statement. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described the action taken against Lineker as a “massive own goal on the part of the BBC”. Keir Starmer, Labour Party leader, accused the BBC of “caving in” to the demands of Conservative Party members. The 62-year-old compared the language used to launch the new policy to that of Nazi-era Germany on Twitter, which the BBC said on Friday was a “breach of our guidelines”. The broadcaster said that Lineker will “step back” from presenting Match of the Day – a Saturday night fixture since 1964 and the longest-running football television programme in the world – until it agrees on a clear position on his use of social media.

BBC commentators returned to their roles on Sunday - as the row between the broadcaster and presenter Gary Lineker over impartiality continues to dominate ...

Sign it [here](https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/reinstate-gary-lineker-to-match-of-the-day). Will he go back to Match of the Day? I think so - he loves Match of the Day. "He's been at Leicester today and he got a really good reaction - there were banners in support of him in the stadium," Lineker's son George told The Mirror on Saturday. Most of them were absent 24 hours earlier when [Gary Lineker's controversial axe](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gary-lineker-would-go-back-29434105) led to a boycott at the BBC. Dad is a good man, a good human, and I'm proud of him for standing by his word. Sunday night's Match of the Day 2 will also last for just 20 minutes, although commentators have agreed to return to their microphones. Tory MPs, who put pressure on the BBC to axe Lineker, are demanding an apology. [petition](https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/reinstate-gary-lineker-to-match-of-the-day) to have Gary Lineker [reinstated at the BBC and as the host of Match of the Day](https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/reinstate-gary-lineker-to-match-of-the-day). Lineker's temporary axe was not well received by his colleagues at the BBC. Bruce-Ball felt obliged to explain his stance ahead of Sunday's game. The popular presenter also questioned the government's rhetoric towards refugees.

In today's newsletter: From football fans to the prime minister, a spat that started over a tweet is sucking everything into its damaging orbit.

[Sign up here](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/12/the-upside-sign-up-for-our-weekly-email) for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday [secured a 2-1 victory for Newcastle against Wolves](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/12/newcastle-united-wolves-premier-league-match-report), taking them into fifth spot. [said in his introductory monologue](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/12/will-smith-slap-chris-rock-jokes-jimmy-kimmel-oscars-2023). ( [Here’s an explainer](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/12/what-is-the-bbcs-social-media-policy-and-what-does-it-mean-for-stars-like-lineker) on the BBC’s social media policy.) Nimo [Simon Hattenstone’s interview](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/mar/13/i-hope-i-havent-killed-anybody-the-pacifist-author-fighting-on-ukraines-frontline)with Vlad Beliavsky (above), a Ukrainian pacifist author now fighting on the frontline, is a memorable portrait of the contradictions the war has forced on his country. Lots more photos from the awards themselves [are here](https://www.theguardian.com/film/gallery/2023/mar/13/oscars-2023-in-pictures). The full list [is here](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/12/oscars-winners-2023-list-in-full-latest-awards-actor-best-picture). [Oliver Johnson has written](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/mar/12/how-to-read-the-news-like-a-mathematician-from-the-budget-and-hs2-to-covid-and-sport)a helpful guide on how to read the news like a mathematician in order to make better sense of the information that we are presented with. “Every one of us,” adds David Attenborough (who, incidentally, [got five stars for Wild Isles last night](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/12/wild-isles-review-david-attenborough-beautiful-tour-of-britain-is-unmissable-tv)). [is scrambling to secure an emergency deal](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/mar/12/uk-working-on-cash-lifeline-for-tech-firms-hit-by-silicon-valley-bank-collapse)to protect Britain’s tech and life sciences sectors from major losses after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). [will continue talks with Lineker today](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/12/bbc-richard-sharp-gary-lineker-suspension-match-of-the-day) in the hope of getting him back on the air by next week. [Everything Everywhere All at Once has dominated this year’s Oscars](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/12/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-oscars-2023-winner-awards-best-picture), winning seven awards including best picture in a major night for Asian and Asian American representation.

The front pages continue to reflect the impartiality row at the BBC, and the government's response to Silicon Valley Bank collapse.

[The Times says the updated defence plans](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mi5-will-help-firms-fend-off-chinese-and-russian-spies-q3wvxjxt7) will involve MI5 offering businesses direct help to deal with Chinese and Russian spying. [The Financial Times focuses on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's efforts](https://www.ft.com/content/1819b977-a0af-476e-9f7b-df635dd3a304) to contain the damage suffered by British tech businesses as a result of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. The paper says the investment has been criticised by the former head of the Army, General Lord Dannatt, who warned that the decision not to spend significantly more was "very dangerous for European security". [asks the Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html). "For far too long, the focus of the police has become warped. [The Times says the BBC is ready](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gary-lineker-row-bbc-bosses-seek-truce-to-get-match-of-the-day-presenter-back-onside-t9v7r7hfl) to allow the Match of the Day host back on television as part of what it calls a "fudge" involving a review of the broadcaster's social media guidelines. [Nail-biting drama based on the audacious Brink's-Mat heist](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0dvdvxd/the-gold-series-1-1-to-be-a-king?at_mid=vRdVrDm9Al&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign=The_Gold_Series_1_E1&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=p0dvdttj&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_campaign_type=owned&at_objective=consumption&at_ptr_type=media&at_link_origin=in_article_promo_box&at_format=inarticle_banner&at_link_title=The_Gold_Series_1_E1&at_bbc_team=BBC) [The Guardian suggests the episode has left the BBC chairman, ](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/12/bbc-richard-sharp-gary-lineker-suspension-match-of-the-day)Richard Sharp - who was appointed by the government - "fighting for his future", with both the prime minister and chancellor stopping short of backing him to guard the broadcaster's impartiality amid the ongoing inquiry into his links to Boris Johnson's finances. [The Sun claims the BBC risks](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21687174/gary-lineker-match-of-the-day-fa-cup-bbc/) a new row with Conservative MPs after what it describes as an "astonishing climbdown" by bosses despite Gary Lineker's refusal to apologise. [is highlighted by the Daily Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/03/12/rishi-sunak-will-increase-military-spend-5bn-fortify-uk-defences/), which notes that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace originally asked the Treasury for between £8bn and £11bn. [says the Daily Telegraph,](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/12/gary-lineker-return-match-day-bbc-bosses-back/) he will agree to be more careful about what he tweets. [The Times says almost 300 British tech firms](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/silicon-valley-banks-fall-is-a-threat-to-uks-tech-start-ups-sfngfjzll) have written an open letter, warning that the sector could be "crippled" and set back 20 years unless a long-term solution can be found.

The front pages continue to reflect the impartiality row at the BBC, and the government's response to Silicon Valley Bank collapse.

[The Times says the updated defence plans](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mi5-will-help-firms-fend-off-chinese-and-russian-spies-q3wvxjxt7) will involve MI5 offering businesses direct help to deal with Chinese and Russian spying. [The Financial Times focuses on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's efforts](https://www.ft.com/content/1819b977-a0af-476e-9f7b-df635dd3a304) to contain the damage suffered by British tech businesses as a result of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. The paper says the investment has been criticised by the former head of the Army, General Lord Dannatt, who warned that the decision not to spend significantly more was "very dangerous for European security". [asks the Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html). "For far too long, the focus of the police has become warped. [The Times says the BBC is ready](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gary-lineker-row-bbc-bosses-seek-truce-to-get-match-of-the-day-presenter-back-onside-t9v7r7hfl) to allow the Match of the Day host back on television as part of what it calls a "fudge" involving a review of the broadcaster's social media guidelines. [Nail-biting drama based on the audacious Brink's-Mat heist](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0dvdvxd/the-gold-series-1-1-to-be-a-king?at_mid=vRdVrDm9Al&at_medium=display_ad&at_campaign=The_Gold_Series_1_E1&at_product=iplayer&at_brand=p0dvdttj&at_ptr_name=bbc&at_campaign_type=owned&at_objective=consumption&at_ptr_type=media&at_link_origin=in_article_promo_box&at_format=inarticle_banner&at_link_title=The_Gold_Series_1_E1&at_bbc_team=BBC) [The Guardian suggests the episode has left the BBC chairman, ](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/12/bbc-richard-sharp-gary-lineker-suspension-match-of-the-day)Richard Sharp - who was appointed by the government - "fighting for his future", with both the prime minister and chancellor stopping short of backing him to guard the broadcaster's impartiality amid the ongoing inquiry into his links to Boris Johnson's finances. [The Sun claims the BBC risks](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21687174/gary-lineker-match-of-the-day-fa-cup-bbc/) a new row with Conservative MPs after what it describes as an "astonishing climbdown" by bosses despite Gary Lineker's refusal to apologise. [is highlighted by the Daily Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/03/12/rishi-sunak-will-increase-military-spend-5bn-fortify-uk-defences/), which notes that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace originally asked the Treasury for between £8bn and £11bn. [says the Daily Telegraph,](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/12/gary-lineker-return-match-day-bbc-bosses-back/) he will agree to be more careful about what he tweets. [The Times says almost 300 British tech firms](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/silicon-valley-banks-fall-is-a-threat-to-uks-tech-start-ups-sfngfjzll) have written an open letter, warning that the sector could be "crippled" and set back 20 years unless a long-term solution can be found.

Talks between the BBC and Gary Lineker are said to be going well as talks continue about a return to its normal sports broadcasting coverage.The corpo.

Speaking to BBC News Washington on Sunday he said: “I’m very sorry for the disruption today. “To be clear, success for me is: Gary gets back on air and together we are giving to the audiences that world-class sports coverage which, as I say, I’m sorry we haven’t been able to deliver today.” [apologised for the disruption caused](https://talksport.com/football/1359216/bbc-crisis-gary-lineker-sunday-motd-2/) to the broadcaster’s sports programming, but confirmed he will not resign over the Lineker impartiality row. [The Sun](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/21687174/gary-lineker-match-of-the-day-fa-cup-bbc/) reports that Lineker will be back for the BBC’s FA Cup coverage next weekend and The Times quotes one source saying “The situation is looking far better than it did on Saturday.” [plunged into chaos](https://talksport.com/football/1358590/gary-lineker-news-bbc-trouble-twitter-match-of-the-day/) over the weekend following the decision to take the former England striker off air for his comments likening the government’s migration policy with 1930s Germany. Talks between the BBC and Gary Lineker are said to be going well as talks continue about a return to its normal sports broadcasting coverage.

Gary Lineker is due to return to hosting sport for the BBC, Sky Sports News understands; Lineker stepped back from his presenting duties on Friday, ...

The BBC and myself are aware that Gary is in favour of such a review. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday. We expect these individuals to avoid taking sides on party political issues or political controversies and to take care when addressing public policy matters." It's heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you. "Also, I'd like to thank Tim Davie for his understanding during this difficult period. Whilst this work is undertaken, the BBC's current social media guidance remains in place. "After a surreal few days, I'm delighted that we have navigated a way through this. "Impartiality is important to the BBC. The BBC has a commitment to impartiality in its Charter and a commitment to freedom of expression. It is also important to the public. I want to get matters resolved and our sport content back on air. I apologise for this.

The BBC were forced to pull several of their flagship sporting programmes on Saturday and Sunday after removing Gary Lineker from his role as Match of the ...

“The very fact that he can’t speak out on the subject and defend the BBC and define impartiality, as the chairman of the BBC, means he can’t do his job. Lineker has refused to back down and has received widespread praise for taking a stand on his principles. “Gary and his representatives have been in talks for a number of days and these are ongoing.” BBC director general Tim Davie said last night he was keen to get Lineker back on side. He was pulled from Saturday's Match of the Day as a result with BBC bosses having to make major alterations to their programming over the weekend. BBC managers are also holding talks with employees in the next 24 hours after another day of absolute chaos at the Corporation. Lineker had become embroiled in a row with Conservative MPs over his vocal opposition to the government's Illegal Migration bill. "I support this review and look forward to getting back on air." "Impartiality is important to the BBC. It is also important to the public. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday." It was met with a backlash, as several of Lineker's colleagues boycotted the broadcaster in solidarity.

Alistair Campbell, politics podcast host and once Tony Blair's director of communications, has been speaking to the BBC about Lineker's return as Match of ...

Quote Message: I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost 3 decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday." The BBC’s social media guidance is designed to help manage these sometimes difficult challenges and I am aware there is a need to ensure that the guidance is up to this task. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you." After a surreal few days, I’m delighted that we have navigated a way through this. He has denied any involvement in the arrangement of a loan for Johnson. That is a difficult balancing act to get right where people are subject to different contracts and on air positions, and with different audience and social media profiles. Football is a team game but their backing was overwhelming." Quote Message: A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. Quote Message: That is a difficult balancing act to get right where people are subject to different contracts and on air positions, and with different audience and social media profiles. The issue is getting involved in party political matters and we apply that independently." "We’ve had a difficult weekend.

Football commentator Gary Lineker is set to return to hosting duties on the BBC this weekend.

“A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday. In a statement on Monday morning, the BBC revealed that it will conduct a review of its social media guidance “with a particular focus on how it applies to freelancers outside news and current affairs,” which is the category for star talent such as Lineker. government’s controversial Illegal Migration Bill, describing it as an “immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s.” I want to get matters resolved and our sport content back on air.” I support this review and look forward to getting back on air.”

Gary Lineker will resume his duties on the BBC's flagship soccer show after an impartiality storm over his criticism of the government's asylum policy that ...

That is a difficult balancing act to get right where people are subject to different contracts and on air positions, and with different audience and social media profiles. 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, and I’m out of order?” It should be clear, proportionate, and appropriate.” “The BBC has a commitment to impartiality in its Charter and a commitment to freedom of expression. He added: “There is no huge influx. “Gary is a valued part of the BBC and I know how much the BBC means to Gary, and I look forward to him presenting our coverage this coming weekend,” the statement read.

Gary Lineker will continue as the host of Match of the Day after the BBC reached an agreement with the presenter.

I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday," Lineker said. Lineker is in favour of such a review that specifically pertains to freelancers outside news and current affairs, the statement added. Two other former football stars who were due to present alongside Linkeker, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, also stepped down in solidarity.