The BBC’s sports coverage was thrown into disarray over the weekend as commentators refused to work in support of presenter Gary Lineker, who had been suspended for criticizing the government’s new migration policy. Lineker, who is a freelance broadcaster for the BBC and not a permanent member of staff, had compared the language used to launch the new policy to that of Nazi-era Germany on Twitter. The BBC deemed this to be a “breach of our guidelines” and announced that Lineker would “step back” from presenting Match of the Day until it agreed on a clear position on his use of social media.
The decision sparked a wave of condemnation from hosts and co-hosts who boycotted their duties for Saturday’s round of football fixtures, forcing the broadcasting service in television and radio output to decimate its scheduled programming. Pundits and former England strikers Ian Wright and Alan Shearer tweeted that they would not take up their usual roles on Match of the Day, followed by the programme’s commentators.
The BBC’s move sparked a debate over free speech, as well as a wave of criticism from politicians and public figures, many of whom accused it of buckling to demands from Conservative lawmakers. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described the action taken against Lineker as a “massive own goal on the part of the BBC”. The NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet added, “Yielding to sustained political pressure in this way is as foolish as it is dangerous.”
Despite the mounting crisis, BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, said he would not resign. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the dispute was a matter for the broadcaster, not the government. “I hope that the current situation between Gary Lineker and the BBC can be resolved in a timely manner, but it is rightly a matter for them, not the government,” he said in a statement.
The BBC announced that the highlights show would air without pundits or a presenter for the first time. It also said players would not be asked for interviews after some indicated they would not be available in support of Lineker. Weekend preview show Football Focus and results programme Final Score were also pulled from the schedule due to presenters and pundits pulling out. Saturday sports schedules for BBC Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were also amended.
“We are sorry for these changes which we recognize will be disappointing for BBC sport fans,” said the broadcaster. “We are working hard to resolve the situation and hope to do so soon.”
Lineker’s response to a video in which home secretary Suella Braverman unveiled plans to stop asylum seekers crossing the Channel on small boats set off the spat. Lineker, who is the BBC’s highest-paid star, wrote on Twitter, “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.” The Conservative government intends to outlaw asylum claims by all irregular arrivals and transfer them to other countries, such as Rwanda, in a bid to stop the crossings, which totaled more than 45,000 last year.
Some 36 Tory lawmakers have sent a letter to the BBC warning that the affair will “no doubt shake many people’s already fragile confidence” in the corporation’s impartiality. Keir Starmer, Labour Party leader, accused the BBC of “caving in” to the demands of Conservative Party members.
The incident has sparked a debate over free speech and raised questions about the impartiality of the BBC. Many have criticized the broadcaster for caving in to political pressure and stifling dissenting voices. Others argue that Lineker’s comments were inappropriate and that he should be held accountable for his actions. Regardless of where one stands on this issue, it is clear that this incident has highlighted some of the challenges facing broadcasters in an increasingly polarized political climate.