The BBC has taken Gary Lineker off air after he reportedly refused to apologise for his tweet likening the Home Office’s immigration policy to Nazi Germany.
Lineker will not present Match of the Day this weekend after the BBC decided his tweet invoking Nazi Germany breached impartiality rules.
Fellow football pundit Ian Wright today tweeted that he would also shun presenting Match of the Day while the ban is in place, expressing ‘solidarity’ with his co-host.
Retired England goalkeeper Ben Foster also wrote a message of support under Ian Wright’s tweet, replying: ‘Heck yes Wrighty.’
Channel 5 News presenter Dan Walker said Gary Lineker has told him ‘they’ve [the BBC] told me I have to step back’.
Gary Lineker has told @mrdanwalker it’s not his decision to step back from presenting Match of the Day following his criticism of the government’s asylum policy on social media, saying “they [the BBC] have told me I have to step back”.#5News pic.twitter.com/9iGGH58aSn
— Channel 5 News (@5_News) March 10, 2023