Nottingham Forest fans tuning into to Match of the Day tonight to watch highlights of the Reds' game at Tottenham will see the show like never before after pundits and commentators boycotted the production in solidarity with presenter Gary Lineker.
Former England footballers and MOTD regulars including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright announced they would not appear on the show after presenter Lineker was told to step back from hosting duties in a row over impartiality.
And they were joined by several of the show’s leading commentators, including Steve Wilson, Conor McNamara, Robyn Rowen and Steven Wyeth, who shared a joint statement online announcing they would also be stepping down from Saturday’s broadcast.
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They said: “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.”
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.
It comes after former England star Lineker, 62, became embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new 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.
Former Forest player Jermaine Jenas, a regular pundit on Match of the Day and a high-profile BBC presenter, had been one of the favourites to replace Lineker, but he too joined the boycott of the show.
The Nottingham-born Jenas quickly clarified his position by Tweeting on Friday evening: "Been on air with the one show. I wasn’t down to be doing match of the day tomorrow, but if I was I would of said no and stood with my fellow pundits and Gary Lineker."
It is believed the Professional Footballers’ Association will support any players who do not want to fulfil media duties with the BBC after Premier League matches in solidarity with Lineker and the other pundits, a situation that could impact on Steve Cooper and his Forest squad.
A number of players contacted the PFA seeking advice, and the union has subsequently spoken to all Premier League clubs to establish a collective position.
Meanwhile, an online petition calling for Lineker to be reinstated, organised by The Daily Mirror on Friday, reached 100,000 signatures in under 10 hours. Supporters can sign the petition here.
Match of the Day will start at 10:20pm tonight (Saturday) on BBC One.
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