G
ary Lineker is to step back from presenting Match of the Day, the BBC has announced.
It comes after the presenter compared the UK’s immigration policy to Nazi Germany.
In response on Twitter to a Home Office video unveiling the Government’s plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel on small boats the ex-England striker wrote: “There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.
“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the ’30s.”
A BBC spokesperson said:“The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.
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“The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.
“When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. We have never said that Gary should be an opinion free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.”
It comes a day after the pundit confirmed he had spoken to director-general Tim Davie, but suggested he expected to continue at the helm of the football show.
He tweeted: “Well, it’s been an interesting couple of days. Happy that this ridiculously out of proportion story seems to be abating and very much looking forward to presenting @BBCMOTD on Saturday.
“Thanks again for all your incredible support. It’s been overwhelming.”
