‘Gary Lineker IS the match of the day, there’s no point watching it now’: Fans criticized the BBC’s decision to take Gary Lineker off the air while criticizing the broadcaster for ‘losing touch with the audience, the country and reality’
- Social media have clashed over Gary Lineker’s removal from Match of the Day
- Some sympathized with the presenter for having their “freedom of expression” restricted
- While others backed the BBC for making the right decision to remove Lineker
Social media users have clashed over the BBC’s decision to remove Gary Lineker from hosting this weekend’s edition of Match of the Day.
The 62-year-old MOTD icon has been forced to ‘take a step back’ from the broadcasting corporations’ infamous football show after violating the BBC’s ‘social media guidelines’, having previously compared the immigration policy of the United Kingdom with Nazi Germany.
MailOnline also looked at Lineker’s actions that led to his recent dismissal and explained the current situation.
The BBC later announced that no one would present the Saturday show, and instead the production would only focus on the action of the match.
Twitter began to buzz after a BBC spokesperson announced the decision to go ahead with Lineker’s removal until the two sides had a “clear and agreed position on his use of social media”.
Social media have clashed over the removal of Gary Lineker from the BBC’s Match of the Day show.
A slew of online comments seemed to refute the decision, while others admitted that the corporation had done the right thing after Lineker defended his point of view.
A disgruntled Lineker fan raged: ‘I think you’ve lost touch with your audience, your country and reality, if you think playing with MOTD and Gary Lineker will do you any good.
Others suggested that Lineker was the only reason people tuned in to watch Saturday’s football show, adding: “I’m not a big Lineker fan but it’s Game of the Day, there’s no point in watching it now.”
Another commentator highlighted Lineker’s temporary removal, ranting that the presenter should still be receiving his staggering £1.35m salary from the BBC, even if he isn’t working.
“Presumably, and as it should be, Lineker is still being paid by the BBC for not submitting MOTD, as they have not terminated his contract.” one supporter tweeted.
Another labeled the BBC’s actions ‘ridiculous’ and that free speech must be defended, posting: ‘Because Gary Lineker has an opinion on Twitter, he needs to stop showing football games on TV.
‘That’s ridiculous, in my opinion. Freedom of expression is freedom of expression; we should defend it where we can.
A similar post echoed concerns that Lineker’s removal would call into question ‘freedom of expression’, reminding the BBC that ‘this is not Russia or China’, writing: ‘I am extremely desperate to know where We headed. This is not about Lineker, this is about free speech.
The BBC is a public broadcaster. It is not a state broadcaster. This is not Russia, Iran or China. Not yet, anyway.
Lineker has been pulled from his role on the iconic BBC show after his comments on social media.
Controversial news outlet GB News conducted an interview with former Southampton player Matt Le Tissier, who was sacked from his duties as a Sky Sports presenter in 2020.
‘BBC has just announced that Gary Lineker will not present MOTD until he reaches an agreement on his use of social media. Please note how the elite are always tougher on those who fight racism than those who espouse racist views,” wrote one user.
Supporters also criticized the BBC for being ‘additionally unhelpful’, writing: ‘I hope at some point we all focus on the actual illegal bill the government is proposing and not just Gary Lineker’s opinion on it. BBC are honestly useless.
Meanwhile, MOTD expert Ian Wright has revealed that he will not appear on the show this weekend.
