Gary Lineker returns to BBC to cover Manchester City v Burnley
Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer apologized for the disruption caused to Match of the Day viewers when they returned today, a week after pulling out amid a fairness dispute.
Earlier, Lineker had tweeted a photo of the studio with the words: ‘The joy of being able to continue playing football!’ alongside a photo of himself preparing to cover the Manchester City v Burnley game.
At the beginning of tonight’s commentary, Lineker’s co-host Alan Shearer said: “I just needed to clarify and wanted to say how upset we were (about) all the hearings that were lost last weekend.”
“It was a really difficult situation for everyone involved and through no fault of their own some really great people on TV and radio found themselves in an impossible situation, and that wasn’t fair.
“So it’s good to be back to some kind of normality and be talking about football.”
Lineker said, “I absolutely echo those sentiments.”
Lineker tweeted a picture from inside the studio ahead of today’s Man City v Burnley game, with the words “Back to work Saturday”.
He said: ‘The joys of being able to continue playing football!’ alongside a photo of himself covering Manchester City v Burnley today
The broadcaster presents BBC coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium.
It is his first appearance since being told to stop hosting Match Of The Day (MOTD) in a row for his impartiality.
Lineker, 62, was taken off the air last week for a tweet comparing the language used to launch the government’s new Illegal Migration Law to Germany in the 1930s.
The BBC then took a humiliating U-turn, even apologizing to the former footballer and promising to review his social media guidelines.
Lineker was photographed this morning leaving his south London home, dressed in a dark suit with a charcoal shirt, clutching a coat and bag, before getting into a car.
Asked last night by LaLiga Sports TV about how his week has been, the former England striker said: ‘Really calm. Not much happens. You could say it’s been an interesting week, but I’m still here, I’m still hitting.
‘It was interesting and also very rewarding, I had an incredible amount of support from my friends and colleagues, which was actually quite beautiful.
Gary Lineker tweeted a photo of ‘teammates’ of Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, who backed him for his string of ‘Nazi’ tweets
Gary Lineker was photographed leaving his south London home today before making his long-awaited return to television this afternoon.
The broadcaster will return to our screens today at 5:25pm to present the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium.
Lineker’s tweet that started the whole saga that led to staff strikes at the BBC after the corporation’s decision to take host MOTD off the air.
Alan Shearer arrives at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester to present live coverage with Gary Lineker of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley on the BBC
“It was totally blown out of proportion to the whole thing, but we’re good. It’s resolved, I’m relieved, I’m back at work tomorrow and all is well with the world.
He will present live BBC coverage, with analysis from Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, on Saturday afternoon, while Mark Chapman will present the Match Of The Day highlights show later on Saturday night.
Many of Lineker’s BBC Sport colleagues came out in “solidarity” last weekend, with featured shows significantly shorter than usual and broadcast without introduction or commentary.
MOTD aired for just 20 minutes last Saturday with no commentary or analysis from the presenters, and the Sunday edition followed a similar format and lasted just 15 minutes.
BBC director general Tim Davie said in a statement that the corporation has commissioned an independent review of its social media guidelines, particularly for freelancers.
Davie apologized for what he acknowledged had been “a difficult period for staff, partners, presenters and most importantly our audience” and described the BBC’s commitment to free speech and fairness as a “tough balancing act.”
It added: “The potential confusion caused by the gray areas of the BBC social media guide which was introduced in 2020 is acknowledged.” I want the issues resolved and our sports content back on the air.
Lineker was pictured this morning leaving his south London home, dressed in a dark suit with a dark gray shirt, clutching a coat and bag, before getting into a car.
It is his first appearance since being told to stop hosting Match Of The Day (MOTD) followed by his impartiality.
Lineker, 62, was taken off the air last week for a tweet comparing the language used to launch the government’s new Illegal Migration Law to Germany in the 1930s.
It comes as protesters wore masks bearing Lineker’s face at a pro-refugee march in Glasgow this morning.
After the official BBC statement was published, Lineker tweeted that he was “delighted” to have navigated the row after “a surreal few days”.
He added: ‘I have been presenting sports on the BBC for almost three decades and am immensely proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I can’t wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday.’
It comes as protesters wore masks bearing Lineker’s face at a pro-refugee march in Glasgow this morning.
Crowds descended on the Scottish city carrying banners reading ‘refugees welcome’ and ‘stop Rwanda’, a reference to Suella Braverman’s policy of deporting people who arrive in the UK illegally on small boats to the African country.
The Home Minister reiterated the controversial policy today as she made her first visit to Rwanda since taking office in the cabinet.
Ms Braverman said the plan “will act as a powerful deterrent against dangerous and illegal travel.”
The minister also hit back at critics of the deal, saying Rwanda can host “many thousands” of migrants, though none have yet been resettled.