BBC tells Gary Lineker to 'step back' from presenting Match of the Day
Gary Lineker has been forced off his Match of the Day duties by the BBC because he won't apologise for his comments on social media, Sky News understands.
The BBC said in a statement that the presenter will "step back" from hosting the weekly football highlights programme.
But, it's understood that Lineker has not agreed to this, and believes the wording is incorrect, Sky News said.
A source close to the presenter told Sky News that the corporation has taken him off air, as he is unwilling to apologise and admit he should not have made the comments.
Following the announcement, football pundit Ian Wright said he will not take part in tonight's Match of the Day programme in "solidarity" with Lineker.
Alan Shearer also said he will not appear on the programme.
The BBC said Lineker will not present the show until an agreement is reached on his social media use, after he was embroiled in a row over impartiality by comparing the language used to launch a new government asylum policy with 1930s Germany.
The corporation said in a statement it has been in "extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days".
"We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines," the statement added.
"The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we've got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media."
The statement continued: "When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, 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."
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