Gary Lineker may have resolved his differences with the BBC, but he won’t be on tonight’s Match of the Day.
But don’t panic, it is unrelated to the recent dispute. The former England skipper had publicly criticised the UK Government for their policy on asylum seekers, tweeting…
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?
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 7, 2023
The BBC suspended him, his colleagues, including Ian Wright, Alex Scott, Micah Richards, Jermaine Jenas, Jermain Defoe, Glenn Murray and Dion Dublin stood by Lineker, refusing to present the Match of the Day show without him and it was eventually aired without commentary.
The issue was resolved amicably, although an apology was not forthcoming and the tweet in question remains public.
Lineker had always been scheduled to present the Match of the Day Live FA Cup coverage of Saturday’s quarter-final clash between Manchester City and Burnley rather than the main evening show.
He will be on our screens for that match, alongside Micah Richards and Alan Shearer from 5.25pm.