Gary Lineker is set to return to Match of the Day this weekend following disruption across the BBC Sport schedules
BY Democrat reporter
The Scotsman is reporting that a host of sports presenters and pundits pulled out of BBC shows at the weekend after the former England striker was told to step back from hosting the show in a row over impartiality.
The BBC management have reached a deal to get the presenter back on air after the corporation apologised for “potential confusion caused by the grey areas” of its social media guidelines.
Football Focus, Final Score and BBC 5 Live, were all pulled while Match of the Day and Sportscene aired stripped back coverage, with the usual show replaced by a shortened highlights reel featuring no commentary and without studio punditry.
In a statement, Davie announced the BBC will launch an independent review into its social media guidelines, with a particular focus on freelancers outside news and current affairs like Lineker.
The director general says the BBC and Gary are “in favour of such a review.”
The BBC’s current social media guidance will remain in place while the work is completed and who will carry the review out will be announced “shortly”.
Gary Lineker said in the statement: “I am glad that we have found a way forward. I support this review and look forward to getting back on air.”
He also tweeted a thread on social media writing: “After a surreal few days, I’m delighted that we have navigated a way through this. I want to thank you all for the incredible support, particularly my colleagues at BBC Sport, for the remarkable show of solidarity. Football is a team game but their backing was overwhelming.
“I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost 3 decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday.
“A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you.
“We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people. Thank you.”
BBC director general Tim Davie said there have been “no easy answers” and he did the “right thing” after the corporation asked Gary Lineker to step away from Match Of The Day.
Davie told BBC News: “I’ve always said we need to take proportionate action, and for some people…we’ve taken too severe action, others think we’re being too lenient.
“There’s never been an easy solution but asking Gary to step back off air, I think, was a significant thing and now we look forward with this agreement, moving forward to resolve things and get back to business as usual.”
On whether he had reached an agreement on social media with Lineker after the presenter was announced to be coming back on air, Davie said the presenter will “abide by the editorial guidelines” until a review has taken place.
He added: “I think it was a very big moment in terms of us saying we have to take stock here, we have to take action, we did take action which we thought was proportionate and as the BBC we did the right thing, I did the right thing.”
Former journalist and Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell has praised Gary Lineker for his “professionalism, accountability and integrity” and Tim Davie for “admitting they got it wrong” after the BBC apology.
“Well done @garylineker for showing that if you believe in professionalism, accountability and integrity with values to match you can prevail even in these populist polarised days of creeping right wing authoritarianism,” he tweeted.
“And well done Tim Davie for admitting they got it wrong.
“The lessons in this for the BBC are clear. Do not pander to extremism, challenge it. And stop thinking that right wing rags like the Mail and the Express represent public opinion.
“The lessons for the Tories are clear too. You might think addiction to populist polarising culture wars benefits you. But you might be wrong. How many of your MPs went home at the weekend to find your kids and many of your constituents couldn’t believe how stupid and wrong you were?
“Sunak thinks he played a blinder by putting Lee Anderson in as Polariser In Chief. He will be thinking again now. Meanwhile Sharp and Gibbs will remain a poison inside the BBC till they are gone and Johnson’s corruption of the apparatus of the State is reversed.”