The BBC announced on Monday the return of presenter and former footballer Gary Lineker, whose suspension last Friday after a tweet against the British government sparked a wave of criticism.
“Gary is an important figure for the BBC and I know how much we count on him. I am delighted that he will present our broadcast next weekend,” BBC director general Tim Davie said in a statement.
Lineker had been suspended after criticizing a conservative government bill that seeks to ban migrants arriving in the UK via the English Channel from seeking asylum in the region, a measure also criticized by the UN.
The presenter made a comparison between the speech of the Executive branch and the rhetoric of Nazi Germany.
“It’s a cruel policy towards the most vulnerable, in terms not unlike those used by Germany in the 1930s,” he wrote, who often shares progressive views with his 8.8 million Twitter followers.
The decision to suspend him from the “Match of the Day” program, which he has presented since 1999, generated a wave of criticism and support from many commentators and former players such as Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, as well as political personalities.
On Saturday, several football programs were canceled at the last minute and the BBC was forced to apologize to viewers.
one last thought
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “pleased” with the agreement between the public channel and Lineker, stressing that “the BBC has a responsibility to remain impartial”.
“Impartiality is important to the BBC. It is also important to the public. The BBC is committed to respecting the impartiality stated in its charter and to freedom of expression,” said Tim Davie.
The channel’s director also announced that an investigation is being conducted by an independent expert to analyze the guidelines on the use of social networks and how the rules apply to presenters who do not work directly with the information.
Liniker, in turn, thanked the support received on social networks and said he was “happy” to have reached a solution with the channel. He ended by reinforcing his position on immigration policy.
Also, I’d like to thank Tim Davie for his understanding during this difficult period. He has an almost impossible job keeping everybody happy, particularly in the area of impartiality. I am delighted that we’ll continue to fight the good fight, together.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 13, 2023
“As difficult as the last few days have been, they simply cannot be compared to having to flee your home to escape persecution or war, seeking refuge in a faraway country,” he concluded.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
