The BBC has apologised to staff after it dropped much of its sports programming this weekend, according to a leaked letter shared on Twitter by The Times’ chief football writer Henry Winter. The BBC has pulled Final Score and Football Focus and gutted Saturday's Match of the Day, with fears Match of the Day may not air at all on Sunday.
Football coverage on Radio 5Live has also been ripped up as journalists, hosts, pundits and commentators refused to take part after the BBC told Gary Lineker to stand aside from Match of the Day this week.
The letter, signed by Barbara Slater, the corporation’s director of sport, said: “We are sorry about the impact that the news relating to Gary Lineker and Match Of The Day is having across the department this weekend.
“We understand how unsettling this is for all of you – the staff in BBC Sport and our freelance community – and we understand the strength of feeling which has been generated by this issue.
“We have just released a statement to confirm that we will only be able to bring limited sports programming this weekend and our schedules will be updated to reflect that. We know that the changes we are making to programming will be disappointing for BBC Sport fans and for the Sport team.
“Individual heads of department and lead editors will be updating teams as and when they can, so if you have any specific questions about your role, please contact your line manager. We are working hard to resolve the situation and we will update you as soon as possible.
“Thank you for your continued hard work and professionalism.
“Barbara.”
The BBC apologised for the changes to this weekend’s sporting schedule and said it is “working hard to resolve the situation and hope to do so soon”.
The broadcaster’s radio and TV timetables have been disrupted as a host of pundits pulled out of shows after Gary Lineker was told to step back from hosting Match Of The Day in a row over impartiality.
In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC will only be able to bring limited sport programming this weekend and our schedules will be updated to reflect that.
“We are sorry for these changes which we recognise will be disappointing for BBC sport fans.
“We are working hard to resolve the situation and hope to do so soon.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called on BBC chairman Richard Sharp to resign over the Gary Lineker row.
He said: “This saga has shown failure at the very top of the BBC and the dire need to urgently protect their independence.
“We need leadership at the BBC that upholds our proud British values and can withstand today’s consistently turbulent politics and Conservative bullying tactics.
“Sadly, under Richard Sharp’s leadership, this has not been the case: his appointment and position are now totally untenable and he must resign.
“The BBC should be a champion of freedom of speech and must overhaul their current rules and judgment on impartiality. They can’t continue to play by rules that are so one-sided.
“The Conservative Government has systematically attacked and undermined the independence of our BBC. That’s not in the best interests of our country and our democracy and Liberal Democrats will fiercely stand up against this.”
Saturday’s TV and radio sporting timetables were changed at the last minute and Sunday’s Match Of The Day has also been thrown into question.
It comes after Lineker was told to step back from hosting the Saturday edition of the football highlights programme in a row over impartiality.
Fellow sports presenters including Alex Scott, Kelly Somers and Jason Mohammad said they were pulling out of their shows, which resulted in Football Focus and Final Score being scrapped from the BBC One schedule, while 5 Live’s radio coverage was also altered.
Gary Lineker (Mike Egerton/PA)
In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC will only be able to bring limited sport programming this weekend and our schedules will be updated to reflect that.
“We are sorry for these changes which we recognise will be disappointing for BBC sport fans.
“We are working hard to resolve the situation and hope to do so soon.”
On Saturday, Bargain Hunt aired in place of Football Focus on BBC One at noon, while The Repair Shop is due to run instead of Final Score at 4.30pm.
Ahead of the antiques show starting, a continuity announcer said: “Saturday lunchtime on BBC One, now, in a change to the schedule, it’s Bargain Hunt.”
Match Of The Day is due to go ahead on Saturday evening without a presenter, pundits and several regular commentators, but the Sunday edition may also face disruption after football pundit Jermain Defoe announced he would not appear.
Defoe tweeted: “It’s always such a privilege to work with BBC MOTD. But tomorrow I have taken the decision to stand down from my punditry duties. @GaryLineker.”
BBC Radio 5 Live was also affected on Saturday, with host Mark Chapman not at the helm for 5 Live Sport and Fighting Talk.
His stance throws further doubt into whether Match Of The Day 2 will air as normal on Sunday as he is due to host.
