Alan Shearer says last week was ‘difficult’ for Gary Lineker to return to BBC
Gary Lineker is back to present live on the BBC as part of the broadcaster’s broadcast of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley.
he, 62, was asked to withdraw from organizing Match Of The Day (MOTD) via a tweet comparing the language used to launch the Government’s new asylum policy to 1930s Germany .
He was joined on the set on Saturday by Alan Shearer – who said last weekend was “really difficult” – and former England footballer turned pundit Micah Richards.
Shearer reflected after he and his BBC Sport colleagues went out in “solidarity” with Lineker, with program highlights significantly shorter than usual and airing without a presentation. or comment.
The 52-year-old said: “I just need to be clear and want to say how sad we are (to) all the spectators who missed the show last weekend.
“It’s been a really difficult situation for everyone involved – and through no fault of their own, some really great people in TV and radio have been put in an impossible situation. and that’s not fair.
“So it’s good to get back to some normal form and talk about football again.”
Next, Lineker said: “Absolutely right, (I) echo that sentiment(s).”
The former England striker previously said “it’s great to be here”.
Before going on air, Lineker posted a picture of himself at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester and told his Twitter followers: “Oh, what a joy to be allowed to stick with football.”
He was also photographed greeting former Labor journalist and videographer Alastair Campbell, a Burnley supporter and The Rest Is Politics organization – which is produced by Lineker’s company Goalhanger Podcasts.
Close
Gary Lineker talks to Alastair Campbell as he arrives at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester (Danny Lawson/PA)
Later in the evening, broadcaster Mark Chapman will host the MOTD highlight – which only aired for 20 minutes last weekend with no accompanying commentary or analysis from the presenters.
Video of the day
The Sunday edition also has a similar format and runs for only 15 minutes.
On Monday, BBC general manager Tim Davie said in a statement that the consortium had been conducting an independent review of its social media guidelines, particularly for freelancers.
Mr Davie apologized for what he acknowledged was “a difficult period for our staff, contributors, presenters and most importantly, our audience” and described the BBC’s commitment to the rights freedom of speech and fairness is a “difficult balancing act”.
He added: “The potential confusion caused by gray areas in the BBC’s social media guidelines introduced in 2020. I wanted to address the issue and our sports content. broadcast again.”
https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/alan-shearer-says-last-week-was-difficult-as-gary-lineker-returns-to-bbc-42393393.html Alan Shearer says last week was ‘difficult’ for Gary Lineker to return to BBC
