Reaction to Lineker being pulled from presenting by the BBC

Former England captain Gary Lineker has been taken off air by the BBC and will step back from presenting its flagship Match of the Day (MOTD) programme after a row between the government and the presenter over his comments on Britain's migration policy.

He was told there has to be an agreed position on his use of social media before he can return, the BBC said on Friday.

Following are reactions to the decision:

FIRST MINISTER OF SCOTLAND NICOLA STURGEON

"As a strong supporter of public service broadcasting, I want to be able to defend the BBC. But the decision to take Gary Lineker off air is indefensible. It is undermining free speech in the face of political pressure - & it does always seem to be right-wing pressure it caves to."

TV HOST PIERS MORGAN,

"It’s now a sackable offence in Britain to express an opinion. What a pathetic state of affairs."

MOTD PUNDIT AND FORMER ARSENAL PLAYER IAN WRIGHT

"Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity."

MOTD PUNDIT AND FORMER NEWCASTLE UNITED PLAYER ALAN SHEARER

"I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night."

LABOUR PARTY'S HOME AFFAIRS SPOKESPERSON YVETTE COOPER

"The focus on this is being used by the government, both to find someone to blame and also to distract from their own serious failures."

FORMER LABOUR LEADER JEREMY CORBYN

"Well done Gary Lineker for standing up for refugees. Well done Ian Wright for showing the meaning of solidarity."

HEAD OF BECTU UNION PHILIPPA CHILDS

"This is a deeply concerning decision from the BBC. It will give the appearance that they have bowed to political pressure from ministers to take someone off air for disagreeing with the policies of the current