Gary Lineker will return to present BBC's Match of the Day following his government's new asylum policy criticism controversy..

2023-03-14 10:52

Gary Lineker will return to present BBC




The BBC announced on its official website on Monday that former England legendary international centre forward Gary Lineker will return to host Match of the Day once again after his suspension.


According to an official statement from BBC chief executive Tim Davie: "On behalf of the BBC, I would like to announce that we have appointed a review team led by an independent expert to assess this matter and the results will be reported to the BBC as soon as possible, this review will be a review of the BBC's existing social media guidelines, with particular attention to how it applies to appropriate usage for freelancers outside of news and current affairs. Both the BBC and myself knows that Gary would have approved of such a review."


“The BBC will announce shortly who will be conducting this review on our behalf. While this work is carried out, the BBC’s current social media guidelines remain in effect. Gary is a valued member of the BBC and I know how much the BBC treats Gary Important, and I look forward to his coverage of our coverage this coming weekend."


Regarding his return as presenter after ending his suspension, Lineker also wrote through his personal official Twitter account saying: "I am very happy that we have found a way forward. I support this review and look forward to returning to the programme."


"After a surreal few days, I am delighted that we have found a solution. I would like to thank all of you for your outpouring of support and especially my colleagues at BBC Sport for the extraordinary solidarity they have shown. Football is a team sport, but their support has been overwhelming."


"I've been covering sporting events for the BBC for almost 30 years and couldn't be more proud to be working with one of the best and fairest broadcasters in the world. I can't wait to get back on Saturday as presenter of Match of the Day."


“Finally, I want to say that no matter how difficult the past few days have been, it is nothing compared to those who have fled their homes to escape persecution or war to seek asylum in faraway lands. Seeing the sympathy of many of you for their plight is heartwarming. to show sympathy.”


"We remain a nation of tolerant, warm and generous people. Thank you."


“Also, I would like to thank Tim Davie for his understanding during this difficult time. It is almost impossible for him to do a job that is guaranteed to keep everyone happy, especially when it comes to justice. I am glad that we will continue to fight this together."


On the 7th of this month, the British government launched a new asylum policy aimed at curbing smuggling. It is understood that the content of the new policy will ensure that those who enter the country illegally by sea will either be detained or directly deported. In the future, their right to enter the UK and apply for residence or citizenship will also be denied.


Lineker is extremely dissatisfied with the new asylum policy. Last Friday (March 10), local time, he called the new policy on social platforms an "immeasurably cruel policy against the most vulnerable", and its words have no difference with "the language used in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s."


As a result, Lineker was immediately suspended by the BBC for "violating the applicable social media guidelines", and Match of the Day will also be broadcast without a host, expert or regular pundits, this also immediately caused many people to suspecyt BBC of being accused of political suppression of government policy critics.


Immediately after Lineker was suspended, the former England international player received outpouring support from most members of the opposition party in the UK, his former national team teammates, and well-known professional pundits in the footballing industry on YouTube. Even BBC's own employees also decided to launch a strike to protest the company's policy.


Renowned football punditry channel, FNG's host Niran Yesufu criticized the BBC by saying that Lineker is not an employee of the company, but that he was only working there, the fact that he was suppressed by the BBC because of his political stance, is already a violation of human rights.


Likewise, both renowned presenters of the British authoritative online media HITC Sports, The Irish Guy, Michael Ramsay and Alfie Potts Harmer also satirized the BBC, saying that the company could change the programme's name to "Tories of the Day" (Ruling Government Party of the United Kingdom).


Among them, Michael Ramsay even went out of his way to ridicule the BBC's way of doing things in the form of a series of hilarious skits.