BBC football programmes Football Focus and Final Score will not air on Saturday, with stars including Alex Scott pulling out in solidarity with Gary Lineker.
Lineker, 62, has been stood down from Match of the Day presenting duties by the BBC after publicly criticising the language used around the UK Government's migration bill, prompting a number of pundits, presenters, commentators and reporters to stage a walkout.
According to the BBC One online TV guide, Football Focus, due to air at noon on Saturday, will be replaced by an episode of Bargain Hunt, with Final Score being swapped for The Repair Shop at 4.30pm.
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Former Lionesses and Arsenal player Alex Scott, who has presented the popular Saturday lunchtime show Football Focus since 2021, said she decided on Friday night that she would not take part.
She said on Saturday morning: "I made a decision last night that even though I love my show and we have had an incredible week winning an SJA for football focus that it doesn’t feel right for me to go ahead with the show today.. Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week…."
Sports presenter Kelly Somers has confirmed she will not be appearing on the BBC on Saturday after a media report said she would be standing in for Scott on Football Focus. "Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today," she wrote on a tweet.
As for Final Score, which normally airs late on a Saturday afternoon, Welsh broadcaster Jason Mohammad said on Twitter: "As you know, Final Score is a TV show very close to my heart. However - I have this morning informed the BBC that I will not be presenting the show this afternoon on BBC One."
Final Score matchday reporter Marc Webber said he can't stand by and see a colleague unsupported.
In a statement on Twitter, he said: "As Final Score reporters, we have decided to stand down from our duties today in solidarity with Gary Lineker. As a result, no Final Score will be broadcast today.
"We all love the BBC and are proud to work for such a great broadcaster. More importantly, we consider it an absolute honour to keep people up to date on football on a Saturday at 3pm.
"A lot of work had already gone into today's show. Many of us are freelancers - only paid per game. We have made a salary sacrifice today.
"But I can't stand by and see a colleague unsupported like this for a personal opinion which did not break BBC Editorial Guidelines. Please also be kind to other BBC Sport colleagues who will still be working because they will not have the luxury of choice we have."
Former Brighton and Crystal Palace footballer Glenn Murray said: "Was meant to be up in Media City today but reflecting last night I felt it was the right thing to do to step away from Focus & Score today. Hoping normal service resumes next week".
The BBC's decision to take Lineker off air has sparked a major backlash, with a number of Lineker's Match of the Day colleagues including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright boycotting this weekend's programme.
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