Gary Lineker has been taken off-air from his role as a presenter on Match of the Day until an "agreement" is reached with BBC bosses over his social media use.
A statement issued by the broadcaster on Friday afternoon said that the ex-footballer, 62, had breached impartiality guidelines with recent tweets that criticised the UK Government's new policy on asylum seekers. It is unclear how long the former forward will be absent from the programme.
Lineker was criticised by UK ministers after he likened the language used by the government over its Illegal Migration Bill to that "used by Germany in the 30s". However, he has repeatedly insisted that he will stand by his words.
The BBC's move has sparked fury among MPs and celebrities. It has also prompted Lineker's Match of the Day co-presenter Ian Wright to pull out of Saturday's show.
Former Arsenal forward Wright tweeted: "Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity."
Lineker's tweet, posted on March 7, was a riposte to the Tories' proposed new law, which will see anyone who travels to the UK "illegally" prevented from claiming asylum. The policy has been slammed by opposition MPs and refugee charities.
It read: "There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other 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."
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.
“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.”
Lineker sparred with Conservative MP and Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt over the tweet. Responding to a message in which she called Labour MPs "goalhangers and left-wing strikers," he replied: "I’m just happy to have been better in the 6 yard box than you are at the despatch box."
The one-time Walkers ad man was also criticised by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who said his tweet about government policy "diminishes the unspeakable tragedy" of the Holocaust. Braverman, whose husband is Jewish, said the tweet was "a lazy and unhelpful comparison to make.”
Asked by reporters outside his home in London on Thursday morning if he stood by his comments, the pundit replied: "Of course."
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.
