Saturday night's Match Of The Day programme is set to go ahead without a presenter, pundits and any commentary and last just 20 minutes amid a walkout over Gary Lineker's removal from the BBC show.
Former England footballers and MOTD regulars including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright have announced they would be boycotting the show, in solidarity with Lineker, along with several of the show's commentators.
Lineker, 62, became embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new UK Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany on Twitter. The broadcaster said it had "decided" Lineker would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an "agreed and clear position" on his use of social media had been reached.
A much-reduced version of Match of the Day is due to air on BBC One on Saturday evening at 10.20pm. It is set to last just 20 minutes, and will not have any commentary on the highlights.
Announcing the decision regarding Lineker on Friday, a spokesperson for the BBC said the broadcaster had 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".
They continued: "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."
Several of the show's commentators shared a joint statement online, announcing they would also be stepping down from Saturday's broadcast, citing that management can use World Feed commentary if they so wish. However, it has since emerged there will be no commentary.
"As commentators on MOTD, we have decided to step down from tomorrow night's broadcast," the statement read. "We are comforted that football fans who want to watch their teams should still be able to do so, as management can use World Feed commentary if they wish. However, in the circumstances, we do not feel it would be appropriate to take part in the programme."
The statement was shared by MOTD commentators including Steve Wilson, Conor McNamara, Robyn Rowen and Steven Wyeth.
On Saturday, a number of BBC football programmes including Football Focus and Final Score were pulled from the schedule, with hosts Alex Scott and Jason Mohammad refusing to participate.
In a previous statement the BBC said the show would "focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry" saying it understood the position of its presenters.
Earlier, BBC director-general Tim Davie - who warned staff about their use of social media when he took on the role at the end of 2020 before guidelines on their use was updated - said it had been a "difficult day" as he apologised for the disruption to BBC sports programming.
"I’m sorry audiences have been affected and they haven’t got the programming," he said. "As a keen sports fan I know to miss programming is a real blow and I’m sorry about that. We are working very hard to resolve this situation and make sure we get output on air."
He did not go into detail about talks or if he had spoken to Lineker in last 24 hours, but said: "Everyone wants to calmly resolve situation. Gary Lineker’s the best in the business - that’s not for debate."
He was also asked by BBC News why Lineker had not been sacked. Mr Davie replied: "Well I think we always look to take proportionate action and that's what we've done." He said he would not "add to" the corporation's current statement on the matter, but that there had been "very constructive discussions".
Reacting to Shearer and Wright's boycott, the BBC boss added: "I absolutely respect people's right to make that decision, and BBC Sport have to look at the programme they will produce for the weekend as normal."
Before the BBC announcement, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards and ex-footballer Jermaine Jenas - who were both not due to appear this weekend on MOTD - also backed their fellow pundits.
Will anyone present Match of the Day in Lineker's absence?
Saturday's Match Of The Day will have no presenters or pundits while Premier League players may not give post-match interviews to the BBC as the fallout continues to the Lineker row.
A BBC spokesperson said: "Some of our pundits have said that they don't wish to appear on the programme while we seek to resolve the situation with Gary. We understand their position and we have decided that the programme will focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry."
What did Gary Lineker say on Twitter?
The row was first sparked by Lineker's response on Twitter to a Home Office video in which Home Secretary Suella Braverman unveiled the Government's plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel on small boats.
The ex-England striker wrote: "There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries. This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the '30s."
Current BBC guidelines state staff need to follow editorial guidelines and editorial oversight on social media in the same way as when doing content.
Lineker is a freelance broadcaster for the BBC, not a permanent member of staff, and is not responsible for news or political content so does not need to adhere to the same rules on impartiality. Last year, he was named as the BBC's top earning on-air talent for the fifth consecutive year. He was paid between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999 in 2021/2022 for MOTD and Sports Personality Of The Year.
