Sunak hopes for solution as Lineker removal sparks BBC sport chaos

LONDON: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he hoped a stand-off between Gary Lineker and the BBC can be "resolved in a timely manner" after the British broadcaster's sport service was decimated on Saturday (Mar 11).

Lineker was forced to "step back" from his duties presenting flagship Premier League highlights show Match of the Day by BBC bosses after accusing Sunak's government of using Nazi-era rhetoric in tackling illegal immigration.

The BBC said on Friday that England's fourth highest goalscorer of all-time had breached guidelines on impartiality and the corporation would seek "an agreed and clear position on his use of social media" before an on-screen return.

However, the decision caused chaos to scheduled sports programming across the BBC's television and radio output.

Pundits and former England strikers Ian Wright and Alan Shearer immediately tweeted they would not take up their usual roles on Match of the Day, followed by the programme's commentators.

Wright then said on his podcast on Saturday he would quit the BBC if Lineker was sacked for good.

Weekend preview show Football Focus and results programme Final Score were also pulled from the schedule due to presenters and pundits pulling out.

"Gary Lineker was a great footballer and is a talented presenter. I hope that the current situation between Gary Lineker and the BBC can be resolved in a timely manner, but it is rightly a matter for them, not the Government," Sunak said in a statement.

Saturday sports schedules for BBC Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were also amended.

"As a keen sports fan I know to miss programming is a real blow and I'm sorry about that. We are working very hard to resolve this situation and make sure we get output on air," said the