Arsenal legend Ian Wright has launched a passionate defence over Match of the Day host Gary Lineker after he 'stepped down' from his presenter role on the show. Wright, joined by Alan Shearer, made the decision not to feature on Saturday evening's programme in a show of solidarity with Lineker.
The 62-year old MOTD icon has been made to 'step back' from the broadcasting corporations football show after breaching the BBC's 'social media guidelines'. Lineker compared the language used by the government in their asylum plans earlier this week to "that used by Germany in the 30s" in a tweet posted on Tuesday afternoon.
A spokesperson from the BBC revealed that Match of the Day will be going ahead, but with no presenters or pundits during the show. “Some of our pundits have said that they don’t wish to appear on the programme while we seek to resolve the situation with Gary," they said.
READ MORE: Ian Wright and Alan Shearer make major BBC Match of the Day decision after Gary Lineker 'stood down'
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) released a statement confirming that Premier League players will not be asked to conduct interviews with the BBC's Match of the Day. Football Focus, Final Score and BBC Radio 5 Live have all taken the decision not to air coverage of today's football matches following the news of Lineker stepping down from his role on Match of the Day.
Wright was the first person to publicly back Lineker by stating he would not take part in the show, tweeting on Friday night: "Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I've told the BBC I won't be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity."
Speaking on Friday's 'Wrighty House' podcast, the former Arsenal striker said he would quit the show altogether if the BBC gets rid of Lineker. Wright said: "Before we go I've got to deal with the Gary Lineker stuff because that's my guy.
"He wrote a tweet criticising the government about everything that's happening with human rights issues and everything here and it's the perfect distraction for this government man. Gary's tweet was the headline news.
"They need Gary Lineker to distract everybody because for me it is a human issue, it's not political. They've got no empathy, the vulnerable ones are the ones that suffer, they're the ones that suffer.
"It starts with words. I think Gary Lineker, he retweeted from a German professor because the Hitler thing is what they've all jumped on. He retweeted saying that it all starts with language, it starts with words. They didn't just start throwing people into concentration camps, it starts with words and language.
"What they're doing is the culture war they want us to have, left versus right, 'woke, you're woke, you're woke' that is the distraction and I tell you something if they do, the BBC, get rid of Gary Lineker, I am out. I'm gone, I'm 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 because he says so much.
"But this is so right with what he's saying. I've spoken to Gary, I'm behind him."
During a live news bulletin on Channel 5, former BBC Sport presenter Dan Walker revealed he was in conversation via text message with Lineker about the news. "I'm actually texting the man himself at the moment," Walker said.
"I've asked Gary Lineker the question about whether he is stepping back or whether the BBC have told him to step back. I've told him that if responds to me I will read out that text on air.
"There is one word in there I can't use, but he has said, 'no, they've told me I have to step back', so Gary Lineker wants to continue to present Match of the Day and is not apologising for what he said, he says its a BBC decision to force him to not present the programme at the moment."
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