Match of the Day will be shortened to around 20 minutes (Pictures: Getty)
The BBC are planning to broadcast a nearly silent 20-minute edition of Match of the Day after broadcasters and commentators refused to work on the programme in solidarity with Gary Lineker.
BBC’s weekend sport output has unravelled after staff mounted an impromptu boycott in support of Lineker, who was told to ‘step back’ from presenting Match of the Day.
The former England footballer was suspended after criticising the government’s language over its flagship asylum policy.
In response to the BBC’s decision, a host of broadcasters, commentators and pundits have refused to work on various BBC shows this weekend.
The BBC have apologised for providing ‘limited sport programming this weekend’ and there had been speculation that Match of the Day – the weekly highlights show for Premier League football – would be cancelled.
It appears the programme will be broadcast but it is expected to be shortened to around 20 minutes and could be completely silent with no commentary as well as no punditry.
The BBC had hoped to take commentary from the Premier League’s world feed but The Times say the BBC’s highlights contract with the Premier League is limited to video, meaning it must supply its own commentary.
Gary Lineker has been suspended by the BBC (Picture: Getty)
BBC shows Football Focus and Final Score were pulled from the schedule on Saturday after more presenters – including Alex Scott and Jason Mohammad – refused to take part.
A reporter for Final Score, Marc Webber, said in a statement: ‘A lot of work had already gone into today’s show. Many of us are freelancers – only paid per game. We have made a salary sacrifice today.
‘But I can’t stand by and see a colleague unsupported like this for a personal opinion which did not break BBC editorial guidelines.’
Sunday’s Match of the Day 2 will also likely be effected and ex-England striker Jermain Defoe has already pulled out of the show.
Lineker, who has hosted Match of the Day since 1999, attended Leicester City’s Premier League game against Chelsea at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
The ex-footballer has received support from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who said: ‘It is not impartial for BBC to cave in to Tory MPs complaining about Gary Lineker, it’s the opposite of impartial.
The BBC has apologised for its schedule changes (Picture: Getty)
‘What they should be doing is standing up, accepting they’ve broken the asylum system, and telling us what they’re going to do to actually fix it, not whingeing on about Gary Lineker.’
Saturday’s Match of the Day will also be without post-match interviews after it was agreed managers and players would not talk to BBC as part of their post-match media duties.
As well as boycotting Saturday’s show, Arsenal legend Ian Wright has threatened to leave the BBC altogether if Lineker is not reinstated.
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The programme will be shortened to around 20 minutes.
