The BBC faced an escalating crisis Saturday over its suspension of former soccer star and program host Gary Lineker for comments criticizing the British government's new asylum policy.
As a growing number of players and presenters rallied to Lineker's support, Britain's national broadcaster faced allegations of political bias and suppressing free speech, as well as praise from some Conservative politicians.
Presenters of the BBC's lunchtime "Football Focus" and early evening "Final Score" said they would not appear on the programs in solidarity with Lineker, who was suspended from hosting popular late-night highlights show "Match of the Day" over a Twitter post that compared lawmakers' language about migrants to that used in Nazi Germany.
