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‘Never be a bystander’: Alastair Campbell believes Gary Lineker has presented Match of the Day ‘for the last time’ after he was AXED from the show as Tony Blair’s spin doctor says host ‘does have values’
- Lineker, 62, was taken off air by the BBC after a series of strongly-worded tweets
- The BBC said that it had ‘decided’ Lineker would take a break from presenting
- Match of the Day will be broadcast on Saturday evening without any presenters
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Alastair Campbell believes Gary Lineker has presented Match of the Day for the last time.
Lineker, 62, became embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany on Twitter.
The BBC said it had ‘decided’ Lineker would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an ‘agreed and clear position’ on his use of social media had been reached.
Saturday’s Match Of The Day will now go ahead without a presenter, pundits and several regular commentators.
Speaking to Sky News on Friday, Tony Blair’s spin doctor, 65, said: ‘Because Gary Lineker does have values…
Alastair Campbell believes Gary Lineker has presented Match of the Day for the last time
Lineker, 62, became embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany on Twitter
‘And he does have principles, I suspect we’ve seen him on Match of the Day for the last time.’
He continued: ‘And I suspect that with Alan Shearer – and I thank and praise him for that – because I think he’s doing the right thing.
‘There’s a very famous phrase, “never be a bystander”.’
Former England footballers and MOTD regulars including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright previously announced they would be boycotting the show, in solidarity with Lineker.
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Late on Friday evening several of the show’s commentators shared a joint statement online, announcing they would also be stepping down from Saturday’s broadcast.
‘As commentators on MOTD, we have decided to step down from tomorrow night’s broadcast,’ the statement read.
‘We are comforted that football fans who want to watch their teams should still be able to do so, as management can use World Feed commentary if they wish.
‘However, in the circumstances, we do not feel it would be appropriate to take part in the programme.’
The statement was shared by MOTD commentators including Steve Wilson, Conor McNamara, Robyn Rowen and Steven Wyeth.
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards and ex-footballer Jermaine Jenas – who were both not due to appear this weekend on MOTD – also backed their fellow pundits.
Alan Shearer and Ian Wright previously announced they would be boycotting the show, in solidarity with Lineker
The BBC said it had ‘decided’ Lineker would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an ‘agreed and clear position’ on his use of social media had been reached
Announcing the decision regarding Lineker on Friday, a spokesperson for the BBC said the broadcaster had 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’.
They continued: ‘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.
‘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.’
