Football Focus and Final Score have been axed from today's BBC schedule as presenters are continuing to pull out in solidarity with Gary Lineker. BBC Radio 5 Live Sport has also suffered as contributors refused to go on the air.
BBC Sport has been in turmoil in recent days after Gary Lineker was pulled from Match of the Day following his criticism of the government's new asylum seeker policy. Lineker, 62, was taken off air for a tweet which compared the language used around the policy launch to 1930s Germany.
It led to fellow Match of the Day presenters Alan Shearer and Ian Wright declaring they would not be part of the show yesterday. Other potential hosts for MOTD and hosts and pundits for other shows have since declared their intentions to walk out in solidarity with Lineker, with the BBC having to replace these shows in their programming schedule.
READ MORE: Anger as 'mindless' vandal smashes police car windscreen as officers help injured pensioner
Sports presenter Alex Scott will not host Football Focus – which appears to have been pulled from the BBC’s schedule at the last moment and replaced with Bargain Hunt. The former Arsenal star said “it doesn’t feel right for me to go ahead with the show”.
Welsh presenter Jason Mohammad also confirmed he would not be hosting Final Score on Saturday afternoon. He tweeted: “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."
Football Focus was due to air at midday but Bargain Hunt played in its midday slot while The Repair Shop is due to run instead of Final Score at 4.30pm. BBC Radio 5 Live has also been affected, with host Mark Chapman not at the helm for 5 Live Sport and Fighting Talk.
Football pundit Dion Dublin said “No 5live for me today” as a mark of his solidarity. In a tweet, the former Aston Villa and Manchester United striker said: “In Solidarity with my BBC Sport colleagues NO 5live for me today!”
Sports reporter Marc Webber tweeted: “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.”
Pundit Glenn Murray also said he had pulled out of appearing on Football Focus and Final Score on Saturday. The former Brighton striker tweeted: “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.”
Kelly Somers also said she will not be hosting Football Focus. She tweeted: “Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today.”
Lineker did not answer questions from reporters when he left his home in south-west London on Saturday morning.
Dressed in a blue suit, white shirt and blue tie with yellow and red stripes, the 62-year-old former England player was quickly escorted into a chauffeured BMW.
His son Harry later told reporters that he was on his way to watch a Leicester City match
As he left to walk the dog, he said: “He has gone to Leicester to watch the game. He will be back this evening.”
More to follow.
For more of today's top stories click here.
READ NEXT:
