Gary Lineker will “step back” from presenting Match Of The Day until he and the BBC have reached an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media.
The presenter has been embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.
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“The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match Of The Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.
“When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none.
“We have never said that Gary should be an opinion-free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.”
Following the news pundit and former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has said he will not be appearing on Match of the Day on Saturday in “solidarity” with Gary Lineker.
Tweeting in support of Gary, Ian said: "Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity."
It is not yet clear who will stand in for both Gary and Ian during Saturday’s edition of Match Of The Day.
Ian's decision to also stand down from Saturday's Match Of The Day was praised by fans and fellow Twitter users. "Top man Wrighty," one person wrote. "Huge respect Ian," another said.
"Proud of you Wrighty for standing up for what you believe in," a third added. Labour MP Zara Sultana called the former Arsenal footballer a "legend".
Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling replied to Ian Wright’s message of “solidarity” with Gary Lineker, tweeting: “Well played Wrighty.”
And in a further show of solidarity, Alan Shearer tweeted: "I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night."
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