[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".

 

[Thunder Bolt]

It seems to be that he did want to stay on, but the BBC wanted to end his contract possibly because of the social media row with the tweets he made and the suits not wanting their presenters showing political views.

Yet, he will still present the World Cup games.

 

[dsr-burnley]

Perhaps, instead of the "Gary Lineker and Friends" chat show, they will show a bit (or a lot) more football. It showed on that week when they all went on strike in support of Lineker's twittering, how little football they actually show on Match of the Day. Instead of 20 minutes' football and an hour's chat, they could reverse the proportions.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Seems like a decent business decision by the BBC for a change. Mark Chapman, for example, does far more work for the BBC at a similar level of quality at 1/5th of the cost.

 

[Professor Plum]

I don’t always like the way he stirs the political pot given his position as a BBC presenter but I do think he’s a consummate professional at MOTD, and has really grown into the role after a tricky start (some may remember his early days). A top player as well of course which gave him extra credibility. On the whole a likeable bloke who will be missed. His podcast is decent too (Rest is Football).

 

[London Irish]

More North Korean stuff from the state broadcaster stuffed with Tories on its executive board and senior management. Good that Gary went out defiantly with his Gaza tweets tho. He doesn't have my politics but it is refreshing to come across a liberal who doesn't feel they need to dance to the Establishment tune and punch left all the time to stay on the right side of the most powerful in society.

Isn't it hilarious that all those rightwingers who bore us senseless on the likes of GB News over how free speech is being curtailed in this country never defend the free speech of those they disagree with like Lineker? Almost as if they are all massive hypocrites.

 

[portlock seagull]

More North Korean stuff from the state broadcaster stuffed with Tories on its executive board and senior management. Good that Gary went out defiantly with his Gaza tweets tho. He doesn't have my politics but it is refreshing to come across a liberal who doesn't feel they need to dance to the Establishment tune and punch left all the time to stay on the right side of the most powerful in society.

Isn't it hilarious that all those rightwingers who bore us senseless on the likes of GB News over how free speech is being curtailed in this country never defend the free speech of those they disagree with like Lineker? Almost as if they are all massive hypocrites.

Or maybe some of us just like our sports presenters to, you know, present sport?

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

Good riddance to the gobshite. Great footballer, #ank person, his smug like grandad jokes and political outbursts has even overshadowed his footballing career I reckon.

 

[Right Brain Ronnie]

Perhaps, instead of the "Gary Lineker and Friends" chat show, they will show a bit (or a lot) more football. It showed on that week when they all went on strike in support of Lineker's twittering, how little football they actually show on Match of the Day. Instead of 20 minutes' football and an hour's chat, they could reverse the proportions.

This man speaketh the truth.

 

[SeagullsoverLondon]

Perhaps, instead of the "Gary Lineker and Friends" chat show, they will show a bit (or a lot) more football. It showed on that week when they all went on strike in support of Lineker's twittering, how little football they actually show on Match of the Day. Instead of 20 minutes' football and an hour's chat, they could reverse the proportions.

Unfortunately, I believe the amount of actual game time they can show is down to their broadcasting rights package, and why for instance the extended highlights on the Albion website are only 10 minutes long, when I want to watch the whole 100 minutes+ again Man City again and again.

 

[A1X]

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

Perhaps, instead of the "Gary Lineker and Friends" chat show, they will show a bit (or a lot) more football. It showed on that week when they all went on strike in support of Lineker's twittering, how little football they actually show on Match of the Day. Instead of 20 minutes' football and an hour's chat, they could reverse the proportions.

The last episode was 1h 19 and I made it around 48minutes of game highlights.

So that left only 30mins for for interviews and analysis on 6 PL games. 5 mins per game.

Still, facts n all that. Bleurgh.

 

[METALMICKY]

I much preferred Gary when he appeared on Blockbusters!

 

[clapham_gull]

Isn't/wasn't Lineaker the hioghest paid person at the Beeb? Getting commercially slaughtered by the streamers, it's no surprise that they aren't renewing his contract, whatever he would prefer.

Worth listening to The Rest is Entertainment podcast if you want an easy to follow take on how streaming is affecting linear TV.

That would be The Rest is Entertainment podcast produced by Gary Lineker's company ?

 

[clapham_gull]

Perhaps, instead of the "Gary Lineker and Friends" chat show, they will show a bit (or a lot) more football. It showed on that week when they all went on strike in support of Lineker's twittering, how little football they actually show on Match of the Day. Instead of 20 minutes' football and an hour's chat, they could reverse the proportions.

Will be limited by rights from the Premier League.

 

[clapham_gull]

This man speaketh the truth.

No it's an opinion. MOTD don't have an "extended highlights" package from the PL.

 

[Bry Nylon]

More North Korean stuff from the state broadcaster stuffed with Tories on its executive board and senior management. Good that Gary went out defiantly with his Gaza tweets tho. He doesn't have my politics but it is refreshing to come across a liberal who doesn't feel they need to dance to the Establishment tune and punch left all the time to stay on the right side of the most powerful in society.

Isn't it hilarious that all those rightwingers who bore us senseless on the likes of GB News over how free speech is being curtailed in this country never defend the free speech of those they disagree with like Lineker? Almost as if they are all massive hypocrites.

“Yes Alan, but just about the right call on the handball?”

(I’m not sure this new look MOTD will catch on tbh).

 

[Napper]

Schofield wouldn’t be a bad box tick

 

[heathgate]

Alec Scott for MotD no doubt.

Oh yes, that would fit with the BBC modus operandi....

 

[heathgate]

This is shameful. Is free speech only for right wing people now? In what universe is a sports commentator's view anything to do with BBC news impartiality? It's all right though for the chairman of the BBC to be a dyed in the wool Tory though? I begin to believe that the Tories want to shut down other opinions to save themselves from defeat.

On the BBC you can be "dyed in the wool" anything you want, you just can't publicise your politics whilst you are in receipt of licence fee cashola..... that's quite a simple parameter to work with really.

 

[ROSM]

Thats not actually the rules. Weren't before and haven't been since they were reviewed following the Robbie gibb/ Tim Davie led debacle.

Apart from a few newspaper owner shills, the majority of people as surveyed at the time supported Lineker.

they achieved the nigh on impossible, turning a past it footballer with a taste for dad jokes into a figurehead of the liberal left.

there is a reason why they want a job share now. that is to avoid ever again, the situation where they want to suspend someone and nobody else will do the job. This will be the hill that 2 political appointees will die on.

On the BBC you can be "dyed in the wool" anything you want, you just can't publicise your politics whilst you are in receipt of licence fee cashola..... that's quite a simple parameter to work with really.