Gary Lineker jokes that he’s had a “quiet week” as he pays tribute to his friends and colleagues at the BBC

Gary Lineker described the past week, in which he was unable to host Match of the Day before being reinstated days later, as ‘interesting’ and ‘rewarding’.

Lineker will rehost Match of the Day on Saturday after initially being suspended in an impartiality row following anti-conservative tweets that equated the language to government crackdowns on small-boat migrants to Germany in the 1930s. .

The suspension resulted in commentators and pundits walking out on the famed football highlight show, which lasted just 20 minutes without discussion in Lineker’s absence, in solidarity.

BBC Director General Tim Davie, who is facing calls to resign, has apologized to staff, presenters, viewers and listeners after sports coverage was decimated last weekend.

Joking about his ‘quiet week’ live ahead of the Barcelona derby against Real Madrid, Lineker paid tribute to his colleagues and friends at the BBC for their support before describing the dispute as ‘disproportionate’.

Lineker says he’s had an ‘interesting’ and also a very ‘rewarding’ week after the BBC spat

The match of the day unfolded in just 20 minutes without pundits or comment last Saturday with Lineker retired and many of his BBC colleagues choosing to go on strike in solidarity.

“Very calm, not much going on,” Lineker quipped, when asked how his week had been. viaplay.

‘Yes, you could say it’s been an interesting week, but I’m still here, I’m still hitting.

‘It was interesting and also very rewarding. I received an incredible amount of support from my friends and colleagues, which was really beautiful.

“It was totally blown out of proportion to the whole thing, but we’re good. It’s solved. I go back to work tomorrow and all is well with the world.

Davie insisted that there will be a review of the broadcaster’s impartiality policy after the dispute and that Lineker will abide by guidance while this happens.

In a statement, the CEO said: ‘It is recognized by all that this has been a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audience.

I apologize for this. The possible confusion caused by the gray areas in the BBC social media guide which was introduced in 2020 is acknowledged. I want to resolve the issues and get our sports content back on the air.

“Impartiality is important to the BBC. It is also important to the public. The BBC has a commitment to impartiality in its Charter and a commitment to freedom of expression. That’s a tough balancing act to pull off where people are bound by different contracts and on-air positions, and with different audiences and social media profiles.

BBC Director General Tim Davie stepped out of line and asked Lineker to return to television.

“The BBC Social Media Guide is designed to help manage these sometimes difficult challenges and I am aware that there is a need to ensure that the guide is up to the task. It must be clear, proportionate and appropriate.’

Lineker’s two trusted Match of the Day partners, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, a broader boycott began, including from commentators, which forced the hand of management.

Football Focus and Final Score were removed last Saturday, while the BBC radio broadcast and Match of the Day 2 were also affected.

Alex Scott and Mark Chapman were among the hosts who withdrew from the shows.

Both Wright and Shearer appeared on the Premier League television coverage of Fulham vs Arsenal on Sunday.

Ian Wright was the first person to withdraw from the Match of the Day in support of Gary Lineker

Alan Shearer, center, and Wright, right, will face no punishment for their boycott

sports mail he understands that those who came out in support of Lineker will not face any action from the BBC bosses.

Lineker said on Monday he “can’t wait” to return to the BBC this weekend, but defiantly faced criticism, suggesting some of his detractors are bigots.

He tweeted: “As difficult as the last few days have been, it just doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a faraway land.”

‘It is touching to have seen the empathy towards his plight from so many of you. We remain a predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous country. Thank you’.