• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Match of the Day will have no commentators tonight following Gary Lineker standing down

Home> Sport

Updated 09:35 11 Mar 2023 GMTPublished 09:28 11 Mar 2023 GMT

Match of the Day will have no commentators tonight following Gary Lineker standing down

Match of the Day will have no commentators tonight as they stand down over the Gary Lineker row.

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

Match of the Day is going to feel rather different tonight, as the commentators have announced they are joining fellow pundits in not appearing on tonight's show.

On Friday (10 March) the BBC announced that they had asked Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker to step back from hosting the show until an agreement was reached on his social media use.

It follows an impartiality row over comments Lineker made about the Government's new asylum policy, which he compared to 1930s Germany.

Advert

He said it was 'an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s'.

Gary Lineker is taking a step back from Match of The Day.
BBC

The BBC said they had 'been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days' and considered his recent social media activity where he tweeted criticisms of the British government over the migrant crisis to be in breach of their guidelines.

Since the BBC announced that they were taking their highest paid presenter off air, many of Lineker's colleagues have rallied around him.

The most recent ones are the six commentators who were due to cover matches for Match of the Day this weekend.

Advert

A statement released by the six commentators who were set to cover games read: "As commentators on MOTD, we have decided to step down from tomorrow night's broadcast.

"We know that football fans want to watch their teams should still be able to do so, as management can use world feed commentary if they wish.

"However, in the circumstances we do not feel it would be appropriate to take part in the programme."

It comes after the BBC was plunged into crisis on Friday evening, with presenters and pundits confirming they would not appear on this evening's show.

The BBC commentators have issued a joint statement.
@Wilsonfooty/Twitter

Advert

It all started with MOTD favourite Ian Wright, who tweeted in support of Lineker.

He wrote: "Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I've told the BBC I won't be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity."

Later on, fellow Match of the Day regular Alan Shearer took to Twitter to confirm that he had informed the BBC he would not be appearing on the show either.

Since the BBC announced that Lineker was stepping back, Sky News have reported that the statement issued by the BBC was 'incorrect'.

They report that Linker has instead been 'taken off the air as he is unwilling to apologise for his social media comments on government policy'.

Advert

LADbible has contacted the BBC for comment.

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: Sport, Football, TV and Film, BBC, Gary Lineker

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
2 days ago
  • 10 hours ago

    Wimbledon star lifts up skirt in protest during dress code row after being questioned by umpire

    She took drastic action to prove her point

    News
  • 2 days ago

    Pippa Middleton was turned away from Wimbledon's elite royal box after breaking major rule

    The sister of the future queen of England was reportedly turned away from the elite seating area

    News
  • 2 days ago

    Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey charged with five counts of rape

    The former Arsenal footballer has been charged

    News

    breaking

  • 2 days ago

    Wimbledon breaks iconic dress code after 148 years following death of Diogo Jota

    If players wish to pay tribute to Diogo Jota's memory then they'll be allowed to break the dress code

    News
  • Gary Lineker confirmed to return to Match of the Day
  • BBC releases statement as Gary Lineker confirmed to return to Match of the Day
  • Alan Shearer apologises to fans for missing Match of the Day following Gary Lineker row
  • Ian Wright says BBC made a ‘hot mess’ of Gary Lineker row