Gary Lineker is taking a 'step back' from presenting Match of the Day until an agreement is reached over his social media use.
The former Leicester, Tottenham, Barcelona and England striker has been the face of the BBC’s flagship highlights show for nearly three decades. But he’s been slammed in some quarters for his tweets this week referring to the Government’s policy regarding asylum seekers. Lineker took aim at home secretary Suella Braverman after a video was posted of her outlining the Conservative Government’s stance on migrants.
Lineker, who isn’t afraid of speaking his mind on the platform and was supported by others, tweeted: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful,” before following up with: “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, and I’m out of order?”
Demands were made that the 62-year-old be suspended or sacked. However, after a meeting with BBC chiefs - whom Lineker is not employed by but has a contract with - he initially revealed he’d be presenting MOTD as usual this Saturday.
But a statement from the broadcaster has confirmed that he won’t be on our screens on Saturday nights until a consensus is reached. The BBC said in a statement Lineker's 'recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.'
It added he should 'keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.'
However, it's now being reported that sources close to Lineker claim he hasn't agreed to step back and that the BBC are taking him off the air.
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