UPDATE: BBC confirms date for the return of Gary Linekar to Match of the Day 

UPDATE: BBC confirms date for the return of Gary Linekar to Match of the Day 

BBC Image: TheAsianAwards, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

UPDATE March 13 (4.00 pm) – The date for the return of presenter Gary Linker has been confirmed by the BBC

After confirming that sports presenter Gary Lineker will be returning to host the Match of the Day, BBC has said that he will be again on air this weekend.

According to a statement, Linekar will return to present the live coverage of the FA Cup quarter-finals, which will be held on Saturday, March 18 between Manchester City and Burnley FC.

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ORIGINAL March 13 (11 am) – Gary Lineker is returning to the BBC as a sports presenter after he was taken off air following a tweet criticizing UK´s government 

Gary Linker is all set to return as a sports presenter for the BBC, a few days after he had been taken off the air.  

According to the BBC, “Gary Lineker and BBC management have reached a deal to get the presenter back on air, after the weekend’s disruption to BBC Sport schedules”.  

Director General Tim Davie said “Gary is a valued part of the BBC and I know how much the BBC means to Gary, and I look forward to him presenting our coverage this coming weekend.” 

Davie also announced that “the BBC will launch an independent review into its social media guidelines, with a particular focus on freelancers outside news and current affairs like Lineker”.  

After the statement by the BBC, Garry said, “I am glad that we have found a way forward. I support this review and look forward to getting back on air”.  

He also posted a Tweet and stated that, “After a surreal few days, I’m delighted that we have navigated a way through this. I want to thank you all for the incredible support, particularly my colleagues at BBC Sport, for the remarkable show of solidarity. Football is a team game but their backing was overwhelming”.

Garry added, “I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost 3 decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday”.

“A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you”, he continued.

He also said that “We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people”.

Meanwhile, Davie also issued an apology for the loss of the BBC sports proramming during the weekend.  

“Everyone recognises this has been a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audiences. I apologise for this”, he said.  

He also stated that impartiality is “important to the BBC and the public as a whole, noting the corporation has a “commitment to impartiality in its Charter and a commitment to freedom of expression”. 

Lineker had been taken off air after he had criticized the UK government in a tweet regarding their new migration policy.

The following days resulted in reduced football coverage across the BBC, as several people including experts, commentators, and other BBC staff decided to protest against his removal by the corporation from their show. 

The Conservative party also criticized him, after he compared the language which has been used by the UK government in their new asylum policy to Germany in the 1930s.  

An announcement was then made by the BBC on Friday, which stated that Linker would be stepping back from hosting the show.

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Written by

Imran Khan

A journalist, content professional, and former TEDx Speaker based in Tarragona (Spain), with a Master's in International Journalism (Cardiff, UK). Imran is an online reporter for The Euro Weekly News and covers international as well as Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com

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