Gary Lineker will return to Match of the Day after being removed from the program in the wake of an impartiality controversy over his criticism of the government’s new asylum policy.
Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, stated that an independent review of the corporation’s social media policy would be conducted and denied that the BBC had backed down.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that the problem had been resolved “appropriately.”
Monday, though, the BBC continued to receive criticism from a variety of sources.
Lineker expressed his support for the review and his eagerness to return to the airwaves, characterizing the last few days as “surreal” and expressing gratitude for the “amazing support” he has received.
Nevertheless, Tory backbench MP Philip Davies told Mail Online that the BBC’s move was a “pathetic concession” to Lineker and the “beginning of the end for the license fee,” while ex-cabinet minister Jacob Rees-Mogg warned that the “licensing charge has passed its sell-by date.”
Lucy Powell, Labour’s shadow culture secretary, said the return of Gary Lineker was welcome, but “far larger questions remain about the impartiality and independence of the BBC.”
Greg Dyke, a former director-general of the BBC, compared the controversy to a 5-0 victory for Gary Lineker and stated that he believed there was a public perception that the government had pressured the broadcaster into removing the television personality, which was “extremely bad news” for the BBC.
Ex-BBC News executive Sir Craig Oliver, who went on to become a Downing Street communications chief under then-Prime Minister David Cameron, described the situation as “a complete catastrophe” and stated that it was the “wrong option” to ask Lineker to step down in the first place.
“The reality is that the BBC announced a review of its social media policies today,” he told the BBC. In fact, it requires a rethink of how it handles such crises.
Sir Michael Lyons, a former Labour-era BBC chairman, stated on BBC Newsnight,
“The BBC cannot be a champion of dissent in Russia and Hong Kong while simultaneously stifling criticism in this country.”
In reference to a tweet by Lord Alan Sugar urging people not to vote for Jeremy Corbyn, he noted that “consistency in the way rules are implemented” is a “huge issue” and that some BBC stars have been let to say things about the Labour Party.
Richard Ayre, former controller of BBC editorial policy, stated that revising standards was not simple and would be “a nightmare.”
“Significant numbers of individuals will find the outcome unsatisfactory. It is unavoidable.”
Before, Davie argued that the decision to keep Lineker off the air was made to buy time until the two parties could reach an agreement on his political tweets, and he stated that this was exactly what happened.
He stated that he took “activity commensurate to the situation, adding,
“We believe we did the correct thing.” I believe I made the proper decision.”
When asked by BBC media correspondent David Sillito if it was a retreat by the BBC, he responded:
“I don’t believe so.
“I’ve always maintained that proportional action was required. According to some, we’ve taken excessively severe measures, while others believe we’re being too lenient.”
In a subsequent statement issued on Monday, Davie expressed regret, stating:
“Everyone acknowledges that this has been a challenging time for employees, contributors, presenters, and, most importantly, our viewers. I am sorry about this.”
Last week, Lineker tweeted that the government’s new Illegal Migration Bill was an “incalculably cruel policy” and that the language around it was “very different to that employed by Nazi Germany in the 1930s.”
Conservative ministers, such as the home secretary, criticized his remarks.
On Friday, Gary Lineker was instructed to cease hosting Match of the Day until an arrangement could be found. It prompted an unprecedented number of pundits and broadcasters to walk out in sympathy with Lineker, disrupting BBC’s weekend football coverage.
Mark Chapman, who did not host BBC Radio 5 Live’s Saturday Coverage or Match of the Day 2 on Sunday, returned to the football radio program The Monday Night Club and apologized for the weekend’s lack of service.
It was “tough and miserable,” he claimed, and it was “disgusting and unfair” that the employees who worked on the weekend received insults.
He continued,
“In a dispute concerning impartiality, it is odd that we have all been perceived as taking sides, and I believe there are lessons to be learned by all parties.”
BBC Scotland also provided complete coverage of the Scottish Cup match between Falkirk and Ayr United on Monday evening, despite having restricted programming over the weekend.
At the announcement of his return to BBC television, Lineker tweeted:
“As challenging the last few days have been, they pale in comparison to having to escape your country due to persecution or war and seek safety in a foreign land.
“It’s nice to see so many of you show compassion for their circumstances. We continue to be a primarily tolerant, hospitable, and generous nation.”
The government’s Illegal Migration Bill passed its first hurdle in the House of Commons on Monday night by a vote of 312 to 250, with the majority of Conservative MPs voting in favor.
“Follow the guidelines”
Since 1999, Gary Lineker has hosted Match of the Day and is the BBC’s highest-paid talent, earning around £1.35 million in 2020-21. He is hired on a freelance basis by the BBC.
BBC personnel are supposed to maintain impartiality on political issues and must adhere to stringent social media guidelines, although there is great controversy as to how they should apply to non-news staff.
Davie stated that the independent social media assessment will have a “special focus” on the application of the principles to freelancers outside of news and current affairs.
“The BBC will soon announce who will perform this evaluation,” Davie stated. Between now and until the review is published, Gary will adhere to the editing criteria.
On Saturday evening, Lineker is anticipated to return to broadcast Match of the Day’s live coverage of the FA Cup quarterfinal between Manchester City and Burnley.
He will then host BBC One’s Sunday live coverage of Grimsby Town versus Brighton & Hove Albion.
The controversy surrounding Lineker’s tweets has also reignited concerns regarding BBC chairman Richard Sharp.
A probe of Mr. Sharp’s appointment as chairman of the BBC is investigating whether he neglected to disclose his role in facilitating an £800,000 loan guarantee for then-prime minister Boris Johnson. He has denied any role in Mr. Johnson’s financing arrangement.
When questioned by the BBC about Mr. Sharp, Mr. Sunak stated:
“Before I became prime minister, he was nominated through an independent process. Also, this method is currently being examined independently. It is proper that we allow this review to conclude.”
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, tweeted:
“Now that the BBC has taken the right choice over Gary Lineker, Rishi Sunak must do the right thing and fire Richard Sharp. The BBC requires a chair who is truly independent and not a Johnson disciple.”
Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, described Mr. Sharp’s position as “increasingly untenable.”
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