ALASTAIR Campbell believes Gary Lineker might have introduced Match of the Day for the final time.
Mr Lineker, 62, was pulled off the present on Friday following a free speech row.
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The company mentioned the pundit’s criticism of the Authorities’s Unlawful Migration Invoice on Twitter was a “breach of our guidelines”.
Mr Lineker will now step again from presenting duties on the flagship soccer present – that he is introduced since 1999 – till a “clear position” on his social media use is agreed.
However as scores of pundits refused to current tonight’s episode in solidarity with Mr Lineker, the BBC mentioned the present would go forward however with out presenters.
The present’s commentary staff are additionally standing down. Commentators often heard on soccer broadcasts outdoors the UK are anticipated to be shipped in.
Chatting with Sky Information on Friday, Mr Campbell mentioned this can be the tip for Mr Lineker’s presenting of the soccer evaluation present.
The previous spin physician – who hosts a podcast run by Lineker’s media agency Goalhanger Podcasts – defined: “As a result of Gary Lineker does have values…
“And he does have principles, I suspect we’ve seen him on Match of the Day for the last time.”
He added: “And I believe that with Alan Shearer – and I thank and reward him for that – as a result of I feel he is doing the proper factor.
“There’s a very famous phrase, ‘never be a bystander’.”
Mr Lineker sparked a free speech row when he in contrast the Authorities’s plans to ban migrants arriving on small boats from settling in Britain with “1930’s Germany”.
The row was triggered when he responded to a video on Twitter of Dwelling Secretary Suella Braverman as she introduced the Authorities’s small boats plan.
The laws will see migrants swiftly detained and eliminated to both their nation of origin or a secure third state inside 28 days.
Sharing the clip, Mr Lineker mentioned: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”
Responding to a different consumer who described him as “out of order”, he added: “We take far fewer refugees than different main European international locations.
“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I’m out of order?”
In a press release earlier, the BBC outlined that they had undergone “extensive discussions” with the ex-England star, 62, following the furore.
Whereas the Beeb praised his sports activities protection as “second to none” they mentioned he ought to “keep well away from taking sides” on occasion political matters.
The total assertion learn: “The BBC has been in in depth discussions with Gary and his staff in latest days.
“We’ve got mentioned that we take into account his latest social media exercise to be a breach of our pointers.
“The BBC has determined that he’ll step again from presenting Match of the Day till we have an agreed and clear place on his use of social media.
“On the subject of main our soccer and sports activities protection, Gary is second to none.
“We have never said that Gary should be an opinion free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.”
Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman and Micah Richards all refused to fill in amid the chaos.
Wight was the primary to boycott the present when he tweeted final evening: “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity.”
And Shearer shortly adopted go well with, tweeting: “I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night.”
Scott later declared herself out of the race with a cryptic tweet of US politician Bernie Sanders saying: “Nah… not for me.”
And pundit Richards backed the boycotters – saying he’d do the identical if he was requested to host.
Mark Chapman – who presents Match of the Day 2 on Sunday – additionally mentioned he wouldn’t stand in.
Solar columnist Piers Morgan reacted in fury on the “ridiculous” choice to droop his pal Mr Lineker – accusing the BBC of being “pathetically spineless”.
The TalkTV’s host fumed: “This is a ridiculous decision and if the BBC really believes its presenters shouldn’t have political opinions then I look forward to them suspending David Attenborough…
“And Alan Sugar and everyone else who has presented BBC shows but makes public their opinions.”
Sir David Attenborough has criticised the Authorities’s environmental document whereas Lord Sugar urged Brits to again the Tories in 2019.
In a separate Tweet, Piers added: “REMINDER: BBC management told @GaryLineker to make political statements about Qatar’s human rights record at the start of the recent World Cup.”
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