Former footballer Gary Lineker returns next weekend to present the Match of the Day (MOTD) programme, after reaching an agreement with the BBC on Monday. The information was revealed by the British public service broadcaster, which wants to end the controversy sparked by Lineker’s criticism of the new immigration policy in the United Kingdom.
“Gary is a valuable asset to the BBC and I know how much the BBC means to Gary and I look forward to having him present our coverage this coming weekend,” said BBC Director General Tim Davie. quoted by the public station.
Lineker was fired by the BBC after he compared the language used to launch the new immigration policy to the rhetoric of Nazi Germany.
The former Barcelona, Tottenham and Everton player took to Twitter to respond to a video published by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, revealing the decision to prevent migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats.
After being challenged by another Twitter user, Lineker responded: “There is not a huge influx. We are taking in far fewer refugees than other major European countries. This is just an immensely cruel policy aimed at the most vulnerable people, in language that none other than the one used by Germany in the 1930s, and I’m the ‘am I nasty?'”.
My goodness, this is beyond awful. https://t.co/f0fTgWXBwp
– Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 7, 2023
Faced with these statements, the BBC decided to remove Lineker. Other presenters, pundits and commentators from public stations refused to work this weekend in solidarity with the former footballer, changing the BBC’s sports coverage.
This Monday, already after the agreement with the BBC, Lineker wrote on social networks that he is “very happy” and that he can’t wait to present MOTD again, after “a few surreal days”. He also thanked “colleagues at BBC Sport for the remarkable show of solidarity”. “Football is a team game, but their support has been overwhelming,” he said.
“As difficult as the past few days have been, it just doesn’t compare to having to flee your home, persecution or war to take refuge in a faraway land,” he added.
I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost 3 decades and am extremely proud to be working with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. Can’t wait to get back into the MOTD seat on Saturday. 2/4
– Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 13, 2023
The BBC’s director-general apologized for the disruption to the service and acknowledged the “potential confusion caused by the gray areas of the public channel’s social media policy.
The BBC stressed the importance of the station’s commitment to “impartiality” and “freedom of expression”, announcing that there will be an independent review of the BBC’s social media policy criteria, including how they apply to freelancers like Lineker.
“The BBC’s social media guidelines are designed to meet these sometimes difficult challenges and I am aware there is a need to ensure that the guidelines are up to the task. It needs to be clear, proportionate and appropriate” , he emphasized.
“I have always said that we should take proportionate measures, like some people [referem que] we are taking very strict measures, others think we are too lenient,” said the director-general of the BBC.
Source: DN
