BBC presenter Gary Lineker
London: The BBC was forced to largely truncate its sports coverage yesterday as presenters refused to work after the BBC had taken off the air its leading presenter Gary Lineker.
Lineker, a former professional football player and the BBC’s highest-paid presenter of football highlights programme ‘Match of the day’, criticized Prime Minister Sunak’s migration policy on social media, according to Reuters.
The BBC took him off the air in an act of maintaining its impartiality after Lineker’s comments began getting attention.
This led to presenters throwing their weight behind Lineker by refusing to work.
Those who criticize Lineker’s suspension accuse the BBC of bowing to the pressure of the government. This has given rise to debate about the impartiality of the national broadcaster.
BBC Director General Tim Davie said on Saturday that ‘We in the BBC, and myself, are absolutely driven by a passion for impartiality, not left, right or pandering to a particular party.’
Davie who wanted Lineker back in the office hoped for a situation where presenters express their opinions while maintaining the BBC’s neutrality, according to the report.
Despite his absence, Lineker’s Saturday edition of the show ‘Match of the Day’ was aired cutting the duration to 20 minutes without commentary. Lineker has been presenting the show for more than 20 years.
The BBC greatly suffered after the presenters’ protest disrupted sports programming on Saturday.
The Conservative and Labour parties questioned its claims of neutrality, especially considering in the era of social media when top presenters can open up about their personal positions.
Meanwhile, the BBC faced criticism from both the opposition Labour Party and media commentators for ‘silencing Lineker’.
The spokeswoman of Prime Minister Sunak called Lineker's comments "unacceptable" while and interior minister Suella Braverman termed them as "offensive".