` director-general Tim Davie has apologized to viewers after the weekend’s sporting coverage was hit hard by the fallout from Gary Lineker’s suspension.
The long-time Match of the Day host had been asked to step down from Saturday night’s program after a tweet criticized Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s rhetoric in a video announcing the new illegal migration law.
The suspension was met with a wave of support from Lineker’s colleagues at ` Sport. Pundits including Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards said they would not be appearing on the show in solidarity with the host, and commentators also announced a boycott.
In the end, the ` aired a heavily abridged 20-minute version of the Premier League’s flagship highlights program with no studio analysis or commentary, while a host of other weekend staples, including Football Focus and Final Score, were dropped from the schedules entirely.
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In a statement announcing Lineker would be returning to the program next week, Davie wrote: “Everyone recognizes this has been a difficult time for staff, contributors, presenters and most importantly, our audience. I apologize for that.
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“The potential confusion caused by the gray areas of the `’s social media guidelines, introduced in 2020, is recognised. I want the matter resolved and our sports content put back on the air.”
Gary Lineker on the game of the day. `
He added that a review of the `’s existing social media guidelines was being carried out by an independent expert, whose identity would be revealed in due course, and said the current guidelines would remain in place in the meantime.
The review will “put special emphasis on how it applies to freelancers outside of news and current affairs,” and Lineker himself is said to endorse the process.
Davie concluded: “Gary is a valued part of the ` and I know how much the ` means to Gary and I look forward to him presenting our coverage over the coming weekend.”
Meanwhile, a statement from the ` board said it “welcomes the fact that the executive has reached an agreement following the weekend’s suspension”.
It added: “Impartiality is a cornerstone of the `. We believe this is the right time to address the clarity of the `’s Social Media Guidelines and how to apply them. We will support the Executive in their continued work to ensure the organization delivers quality, impartial content for all audiences.”
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