[Football] Gary Lineker to step back from presenting MOTD

[Titanic]

Gary Lineker to step back from presenting MOTD

Gary Lineker to step back from presenting Match of the Day until agreement reached on social media use - BBC statement

www.bbc.co.uk

Gary Lineker is to step back from presenting Match of the Day until an agreement is reached on his social media use - BBC statement.
It follows an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the government's new asylum policy.
In a tweet, the presenter had compared the language used by the government to set out its plan to "that used by Germany in the 30s".

 

[Algernon]

The BBC have painted themselves well and truly into a corner.

Are they the baddies?

 

[Wozza]

 

[jackanada]

Could we confirm that having prominent people removed from their jobs for valid criticism of the government is absolutely nothing like Germany in the 30s?

 

[MattBackHome]

"I think MOTD will be better without pundits" is the f***ing stupidest take possible here so well done some of you.

 

[Deadly Danson]

For what its worth, this was the subject of debate amongst last night's crowd in our local pub. Apart from one person who was incensed by the BBC, no one cared about the politics but everyone wanted Lineker sacked because he is an overpaid twatt.

And that's the level of debate for so many people (plenty of idiotic posts on here say the same) - I don't like him or he's paid too much therefore he's wrong. NO ONE CARES if you like him or not or whether you think he's overpaid. Either you agree that anyone who appears on BBC has the right to free speech or you don't. And if you don't, you are going to have to censor a whole lot of people unless you choose only those you don't agree with.

 

[Triggaaar]

The BBC have painted themselves well and truly into a corner.

If that's basically correct (and I have no reason to doubt it) then the BBC should just apologise and re-instate him.

 

[rogersix]

There is always the option to torpedo all small boats and machine gun any survivors.

Maybe that is what some on here would like as a deterrent?

patel wanted the navy involved, not so far fetched

 

[hart's shirt]

Has it come to this?

Bargain Hunt is quite apt.

It's probably what the BBC will have to do to replace some of its highly-paid presenters.

 

[Deadly Danson]

Has it come to this?

And if that doesn't get the masses out to vote out the Tories then nothing will.

 

[jcdenton08]

And that's the level of debate for so many people (plenty of idiotic posts on here say the same) - I don't like him or he's paid too much therefore he's wrong. NO ONE CARES if you like him or not or whether you think he's overpaid. Either you agree that anyone who appears on BBC has the right to free speech or you don't. And if you don't, you are going to have to censor a whole lot of people unless you choose only those you don't agree with.

This is the crux of it really. Free speech works both ways. I think he has been harshly treated but I wonder if the reaction on here would be the same if a “celebrity you don’t like” came out with a pro Tory message.

Frankly I suspect not, because this place is rabid at times.

 

[abc]

Fantastic to dismiss the views of NSC and then say everyone in a pub felt the same. I am calling BS on that.

Didn't dismiss the views of NSC at all, just saying we may not be representative of all Brighton fans. I've no idea of course what all Brighton fans believe or feel. I was just relaying the pub conversation as an example of 1. An alternative view and 2. This view appeared to point to little of the outrage that some on here are feeling. Not sure why you are 'calling BS' on that'?

 

[abc]

Strange to think that NSC, a forum of mostly strangers brought together by support of the Albion, is less representative than one poster and their group of friends down the pub.

But then I didn't say that, because yes that would be strange!

 

[rogersix]

Could we confirm that having prominent people removed from their jobs for valid criticism of the government is absolutely nothing like Germany in the 30s?

the question is, what is the difference in the language employed by braverman and 30's germany?

 

[pb21]

Apart from one person who was incensed by the BBC, no one cared about the politics but everyone wanted Lineker sacked because he is an overpaid twatt.

In that case everyone in your local boozer, apart from at least one person, is completely getting the wrong end of the stick.

It doesn't matter if Lineker is an overpaid twat or an underpaid genius, he is being told he can't voice his opinion outside of the BBC, despite it seemingly being the case that he should be able too.

In addition, and more worryingly, that decision by the BBC may have come about after they were lent on by the Government.

This isn't a case of a controversial speaker being deplatformed by a private/independent organisation, through there own commercial decision. It's, potentially, the Government having a say who can work for the BBC.

 

[DJ NOBO]

He is suspended. This 45 page thread is about him and his suspension.

He is suspended. This 45 page thread is about him and his suspension.

The bbc didn’t use that inflammatory word but fair enough it amounts to suspension. Where did sacked come from though? You might have the exclusive there.

But anyway…I value free speech but this isn’t a simple free speech argument.

His employees feel he has responsibilities as a face of the company . Not saying I agree with them, but don’t think Lineker warrants being a poster boy for free speech either.

On a broader level, I think the bbc pays Gary Lineker far too much full stop.

This at a time when it is decimating its local services which are vital to communities.

So yeah, imo it would be a good time to move on from Lineker anyway.

In an ideal world that license fee money would be rediverted to local radio.

 

[Wozza]

"I think MOTD will be better without pundits" is the f***ing stupidest take possible here so well done some of you.

Yep 100%. As I said, it's like dismissing news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine because you once went there and didn't like the food.

 

[rogersix]

This is the crux of it really. Free speech works both ways. I think he has been harshly treated but I wonder if the reaction on here would be the same if a “celebrity you don’t like” came out with a pro Tory message.

Frankly I suspect not, because this place is rabid at times.

neil? portillo? paris? clarkson? sugar?

 

[allystrat]

In all seriousness though, the entire football broadcasting world has basically come out in Gary’s defence. Knowing that you peers and colleagues have your back in that way must feel f***ing awesome.

I suspect there's a lot of disingenuous support among his peers. Seems to me that a lot of these presenters, pundits etc etc have been playing a waiting game and are now just following suit. Dominoes springs to mind. They've all become too matey matey.

 

[Nobby]

So we've got presenters, pundits and production teams "oot".
Who will be the first player to support Gary and withdraw?

it's already happening - players not giving any interviews to the BBC

 

[Billy in Bristol]

Fighting Talk gone