They think it’s all over… and it just might be for Gary Lineker and Match of the Day now.
The long-serving host of the popular football show has found himself at the centre of a storm this week after tweeting out a passionate response to the Conservative government’s refugee policies.
But will he make it back to the show and who might present it in his absence?
Why isn’t Gary Lineker on Match Of The Day?
Despite hosting the show since 1999, tweets Gary made earlier this week has resulted in him being asked to ‘step back’ from presenting duties for the time-being.
His tweets were aimed at the Conservative party, after they unveiled their Illegal Migration Bill.
In one of his tweets, Lineker compared the language choices to that of 1930s Germany – aka the Nazi Party.
After the furore, the BBC released a statement confirming he wouldn’t be presenting the show this week, or for the foreseeable.
The statement in full read: ‘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.’
‘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.’
Who could present Match of the Day?
The show will go on without a presenter this week as most of Lineker’s colleagues have stepped back in solidarity.
Ian Wright and Alan Shearer were quick to pull out of filming MOTD without Lineker, while Alex Scott was among other BBC Sports pundits who have refused to film following the fallout.
Elsewhere, BBC Radio 5 Live’s Mark Chapman boycotted his radio show in support.
The BBC have had to pivot this weekend, confirming limited sports will be shown.
MORE : Premier League players and managers won’t speak to Match of the Day due to Gary Lineker row
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