BBC suspends sports shows over impartiality controversy involving Gary Lineker

The BBC has issued an apology to sports fans after having to cancel multiple shows due to over a dozen presenters and commentators refusing to appear. They are supporting colleague Gary Lineker, who was asked to temporarily step back from hosting flagship football programme “Match of the Day” after making a controversial Twitter comment about the government’s new immigration policy. This boycott is affecting five shows on Saturday alone, and Sunday’s “Match of the Day” is uncertain after host Mark Chapman was absent from his two radio shows on Saturday, with pundit Jermain Defoe also announcing his decision not to participate. The boycott has resulted in limited sports programming over the weekend, leading to disappointment among viewers. Furthermore, the government’s new Illegal Migration Bill has sparked controversy, with Lineker expressing his views on Twitter. As a result, the BBC has asked him to step back from presenting the programme until they reach a clear position on his use of social media. The BBC has strict rules on impartiality in all their output, and this situation highlights the wider issue of how freelancers ought to be subject to the same rules as permanent staff.