The turmoil with BBC programming has extended into a second day with Match of the Day 2 and live coverage of the Women’s Super League set to go ahead without presenters.
The BBC’s decision to stand Gary Lineker down from presenting Match of the Day on Friday sparked chaos within the corporation with walkouts from pundits and commentators severely disrupting Saturday’s schedule.
The BBC’s director-general Tim Davie was forced to apologise after the likes of Ian Wright, Alex Scott and Mark Chapman caused Match of the Day to run without presentation or commentary, Football Focus and Final Score to be taken off air entirely and Radio Five Live to drastically cut planned coverage.
Former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe was one of those set to take part in Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night but will not appear with the show now expected to go ahead in a similar, condensed and commentary-free format as Saturday’s flagship programme.
GO DEEPER
Match of the Day without Gary Lineker: Eerie images, broadcast apologetically by BBC
BBC Two’s coverage of the Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Manchester United will go ahead, but without presentation.
Commentary will be carried via the world feed.
On Radio Five Live the usual presenter-led build-up to the afternoon’s Premier League action was scrapped.
Lineker, who first presented Match of the Day in 1999, criticised the UK government’s new asylum policy in a tweet on March 7.
He wrote on Twitter: “There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries. This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I’m out of order?”
It remains to be seen if he has a future with the broadcaster with his son George indicating that he would like to return to Match of the Day but has no plans to apologise for his social media messages.
“Dad is a good man, a good human, and I’m proud of him for standing by his word. That’s why he was pulled off the show – because he wouldn’t apologise. But he will always speak up for people who don’t have a voice,” he told the Sunday Mirror.
“Will he go back to Match of the Day? I think so – he loves Match of the Day. But he won’t ever back down on his word.”
Davie says he is keen to find a resolution.
“I would say Gary Lineker is a superb broadcaster. He’s the best in the business, that’s not for debate,” he said.
“To be clear, success for me is: Gary gets back on air and together we are giving to the audiences that world-class sports coverage which, as I say, I’m sorry we haven’t been able to deliver today.”
GO DEEPER
It is the BBC, not Gary Lineker, who have scored the spectacular own goal
(Photo: MEGA/GC Images)
World - Latest - Google News
March 12, 2023 at 10:05PM
https://ift.tt/VD2ICgd
BBC programming disruption extends into second day after Gary Lineker row - The Athletic
World - Latest - Google News
https://ift.tt/oEa05fv
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "BBC programming disruption extends into second day after Gary Lineker row - The Athletic"
Post a Comment