Gary Neville has claimed Gary Lineker's punishment by the BBC is what happens "when you take on the Tories and the system".
The Match of the Day presenter has found himself in hot water after criticising the Government's new asylum policy on Twitter. He compared it to the actions undertaken by Germany in the 1930s, which was then under the rule of the Nazi Party.
Lineker refused to apologise for his comments and, when questioned, maintained that he stood by them. He was criticised by some for airing his political views whilst being a BBC employee amid calls for him to remain impartial. The organisation have now decided he will "step back" from presenting the flagship highlights show on a Saturday night.
Neville has said on the decision: "When you take on the Tories and the system! Awful people who we need gone. Off for a (wine)." The former Manchester United player is a member of the Labour party and has long been a vocal critic of the Conservatives.
The BBC said it had held "extensive discussions with Gary and team in recent days" and "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".
It also added: "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."
Sky News have reported that sources close to Linker claim he has been taken off air, rather than the broadcaster himself stepping back. He is not prepared to apologise for the comments he made on social media. Dan Walker confirmed on Channel 5 news that Lineker told him personally: "they [the BBC] have told me I have to step back".
Ian Wright has confirmed that he will not deputise for his colleague and has made his feelings clear to the company. "Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity," he said on social media. Neville responded to Wright by saying: "You’re more than good!"
Labour MP Emily Thornberry has admitted that Lineker's comments "went too far". She said on Sky: “I know that Gary Lineker feels very strongly about this issue, and he has brought refugees into his home and he campaigns on this issue. I think some of the language that Gary Lineker has used in the last 24 hours has been really very unfortunate, and I wouldn’t have used some of the [comments]… I just think that there is a special place in hell for the Nazis… I don’t think you should be making those comparisons. So I wouldn’t have said that, I think that he went too far…”
