Gary Lineker

The broadcaster said the former England striker breached its social media guidelines.

Fines could have been issued for failing to fulfil broadcasting duties, Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week....” The Professional Footballers Association said they would support players if they refused to speak to Match of the Day out of solidarity with Gary Lineker. Alex Scott has confirmed she will not be presenting Football Focus today, with the show set to be pulled from the air by the BBC along with results programme Final Score. Premier League clubs have been told they will not receive requests for Match of the Day interviews today, according to the BBC. He said the corporation’s guidelines refer to people with “a particularly high BBC public profile”, and there was “quite a gulf” between Lineker and Lord Sugar in that regard. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said the suspension of Gary Lineker from Match Of The Day was “an assault on free speech”. Scott was scheduled to present the weekend’s football preview show at Saturday lunchtime but announced that she would be adding to the boycott of Match of the Day. A spokesman said: “The PFA have been speaking to members who wanted to take a collective position and to be able to show their support for those who have chosen not to be part of tonight’s programme. The Professional Footballers’ Association has said players involved in games today will not be asked to participate with Match Of The Day interviews. [Alan Shearer](/topic/alan-shearer) and [Ian Wright](/topic/ian-wright) previously pulled out of the show in “solidarity” with Lineker, who was told [to “step back” from his position.](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/match-of-the-day-replace-gary-lineker-odds-b2298365.html) BBC football presenter and former England player Alex Scott said she will not be presenting Football Focus on Saturday, as the crisis engulfing the corporation deepens.

One of the many who has got behind Gary Lineker in his feud with the BBC is iconic page three girl Lucy Pinder, who backed the axed Match of the Day host on ...

[Lucy Pinder](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/lucy-pinder) has spoken out in support of [Gary Lineker](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/gary-lineker) amid the Match of the Day crisis. But Somers ruled herself out on Twitter, writing: "Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today." [Lineker was suspended](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/breaking-gary-lineker-bbc-investigation-29427057) by the [BBC](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/bbc) on Friday (March 10) after reportedly refusing to back down over a tweet criticising the government's asylum policy, in which he compared it to Nazi Germany. Scott has hosted the midday magazine show since 2021 and had been due to front the programme as usual on Saturday. It has also been reported that Premier League players are in discussions to skip interviews with the show. Can’t wait to see the back of you hateful lot." The 39-year-old glamour model continued her defence of the MOTD crew when Tory MP Nadine Dorries tweeted: ".@GaryLineker does need to decide though, is he a footie presenter or a candidate for the Labour Party? It had been rumoured that Scott would be replaced by fellow presenter Kelly Somers. Taking to Twitter after the news broke, she wrote: "F***ing outrageous. [decided to boycott too](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/match-of-the-day-boycott-29429255?2=). [comments section.](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/lucy-pinder-gary-lineker-motd-29429690#comments-section) [Match of the Day crisis gets worse as commentators boycott and players are next](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/match-of-the-day-boycott-29429255?2)

Arsenal icon Ian Wright has decided not to appear on this Saturday's Match of the Day in "solidarity" with Gary Lineker after the BBC announced the latter ...

Gary Lineker replacements after BBC drop bombshell statement](https://www.football.london/premier-league/match-of-the-day-lineker-26445396) A number of commentators that cover football matches for the BBC on Match of the Day have also stepped down, with the show now expected only to televise highlights from each match using a world commentary feed with no punditry or interviews. BBC confirmed that there will be no punditry or studio hosts, with only the match highlights set to be broadcasted tonight. [Channel 5](https://twitter.com/5_News), Walker revealed he was in conversation via text message with Lineker about the news. Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has messaged Arsenal hero Ian Wright over his decision to step down from punditry duties for Match of the Day in a show of solidarity with BBC Sport presenter Gary Lineker. “Some of our pundits have said that they don’t wish to appear on the programme while we seek to resolve the situation with Gary," they said.

The Premier League has informed the 12 teams playing on Saturday that players and managers will not be asked to do interviews for Match of the Day.

The corporation said it considered his "recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines", adding it had been "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". In a later statement, a spokesperson said: "Some of our pundits have said that they don't wish to appear on the programme while we seek to resolve the situation with Gary. In a statement, the PFA said members had told them they wanted to take a "collective position" and "to be able to show their support". The BBC said it it had asked Lineker to step back from presenting after "extensive discussions" with him. The Premier League has informed the 12 teams playing on Saturday that players and managers will not be asked to do interviews for Match of the Day. Gary Lineker: Players and managers won't be asked to do interviews for Match of the Day

Alex Scott, host of BBC's Football Focus, is the latest employee of the storied broadcaster to take a stand in solidarity with colleague Gary Lineker, ...

[Jurgen Klopp leading a managers and players boycott](/sport/football/article-11847511/Match-Day-WONT-talk-managers-boycotts-solidarity-Gary-Lineker-continue.html) of the broadcaster this weekend. [latest in a string of walk-outs](/sport/football/article-11846623/Match-Day-MELTDOWN-BBCs-decision-came-Gary-Linekers-hosts-rallied-him.html) since the BBC's much-debated call to suspend Lineker. The BBC announced their plan to host the show without pundits in the wake of this news late last night. [the BBC's decision to ask the long-running Match of the Day host to 'step back'](/sport/football/article-11846151/IAN-HERBERT-Match-Day-broadcasting-risk-Linekergate.html) in the wake of his controversial tweet. Match of the Day has been thrown into chaos in the wake of Lineker's suspension of duties [Alex Scott](/tvshowbiz/alex-scott/index.html), host of [BBC](/news/bbc/index.html)'s Football Focus, will not present the popular sports show today in support of broadcasting colleague [Gary Lineker](/sport/gary-lineker/index.html).

Ex-director general says decision to suspend presenter for criticising government's asylum policies is mistaken.

And clearly the BBC has failed on that.” The decision led to displays of solidarity from Lineker’s co-hosts, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, who announced that they would not be participating in Saturday’s show. If you’re working for the BBC, you have a responsibility, when you’re public-facing … “I think what the BBC did yesterday was mistaken. Asked whether Lineker’s tweet was acceptable, he said: “We live in a world of freedom of speech and therefore, yes. “And once the BBC does that, then you’re in real problems.

Pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer announced they too would not appear on the programme soon after in support of Lineker. Alex Scott, Micah Richards, Jermaine ...

The player's union, the PFA, released a statement on Saturday morning clarifying that no interviews will be given to the BBC." We understand their position and we have decided that the programme will focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry." The iconic highlights show will air on Saturday night, without a presenter or analysis from the day's Premier League games involving Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and defending champions Manchester City. BBC Sport have to look at the programme they are going to produce for the weekend." Who the hell is going to go on now!" WHAT THEY SAID: Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was not surprised to see Wright pull out after the announcement that Lineker was stepping aside.

Gary Lineker will take a step back from presenting "Match of the Day," the iconic British football show, following controversy about a tweet he wrote ...

Meanwhile, Dan Walker, a former BBC Breakfast and Football Focus presenter, tweeted: “I used to sit in for Gary Lineker on MOTD… “When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. 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, and I’m out of order?”

Broadcaster pulls ex-footballer from sports programme after he compares government rhetoric over immigration to Nazi Germany.

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Usual BBC programs Football Focus and Final Score have been scrapped today amid a mass presenter walk out, including Alex Scott, in support of Gary…

Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week….— Alex Scott MBE (@AlexScott) [March 11, 2023] However - I have this morning informed the BBC that I will not be presenting the show this afternoon on BBC One. The former Brighton striker, on Twitter, said: "Was meant to be up in Media City today but reflecting last night I felt it was the right thing to do to step away from Focus & Score today. "However - I have this morning informed the BBC that I will not be presenting the show this afternoon on BBC One." In a tweet, Scott said: “I made a decision last night that even though I love my show and we have had an incredible week winning an SJA for football focus that it doesn’t feel right for me to go ahead with the show today.

Pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer and regular commentators say they will not appear on Saturday.

He is employed by the BBC on a freelance basis. "The BBC is not acting impartially by caving in to Tory MPs who are complaining about Gary Lineker," he told broadcasters at Welsh Labour's conference in Llandudno. He said the government should focus on fixing the asylum system rather than "whingeing on" about Lineker and accused BBC bosses of bowing to pressure from ministers. Lineker reacted to it on Twitter calling it an "immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s". Mr Dyke warned the move could create the impression that the "BBC has bowed to government pressure". "The real problem today is that the BBC has undermined its own credibility by doing this," he told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Other presenters have also pulled out of BBC appearances after former England soccer captain Lineker, who presents the flagship "Match of the Day" soccer ...

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, and I’m out of order? Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week… “However — I have this morning informed the BBC that I will not be presenting the show this afternoon on BBC One.”

On multiple occasions, BBC has attempted to tarnish India's image and cry foul over the supposed lack of press freedom in India. | OpIndia News.

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, and I’m out of order?— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) 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, and I’m out of order?” he had tweeted. “Stopping the boats is one of the 5 promises the Prime Minister has made to the British people. “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. “Last year, over 45,000 people made the unsafe, unnecessary and illegal journey across the (English channel). BBC, however, is not ready to walk the talk while it continues to virtue signal others on journalistic ethics and principles. This bill will bring an end to that,” Suella Braverman concluded. “I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow (March 11) night,” the holder of premier league goal-scoring record Alan Shearer said in a tweet. Support poured in for Gary Lineker from all corners, including from fellow pundits on the highly popular Match Of The Day, such as Ian Wright and Alan Shearer. We are now spending almost £7 million pounds (₹69.02 crores) a day on hotels,” she was heard as saying. Scott, Richards, and Jenas were not scheduled to appear on BBC this Sarturday but they made their feelings known regardless. That’s why today I am announcing a new Illegal Migration Bill to do exactly that,” Braverman further added.

Ian Wright and Piers Morgan support BBC presenter's right to express views while Suella Braverman and Lee Anderson are critical.

Mike Graham Another TalkTV host, Graham called Lineker’s tweet “disgusting” and said he should apologise to people of Jewish heritage who had found it offensive. “The people who are paying Gary Lineker’s salary are licence fee payers and they do not all agree with Gary Lineker,” she said. “To kind of throw out those kind of flippant analogies diminishes the unspeakable tragedy that millions of people went through and I don’t think anything that is happening in the UK today can come close to what happened in the Holocaust.” Lee Anderson The Conservative party vice-chair called Lineker’s invocation of Nazi-era Germany “disgusting and vile”. “The perception out there is that the BBC has bowed to government pressure. Ian Wright After it was announced on Friday that Lineker would not be hosting Saturday’s Match of the Day (MOTD), his co-host Wright said he wouldn’t be appearing either.

BBC Radio 5 Live's schedule was obliterated as live sport coverage was replaced by podcast repeats. Colin Murray and Mark Chapman were among the presenters who ...

We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. Lineker was deemed to have broken BBC impartiality rules last October after tweeting his views on the Conservative Party accepting donations from Russia. “When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. - Lineker is yet to even comment on his suspension. We are sorry for these changes which we recognise will be disappointing for BBC sport fans. [BBC](https://deadline.com/tag/bbc/) has apologized after its Premier League output went into freefall as mutinous presenters and pundits staged a protest over the suspension of [Gary Lineker](https://deadline.com/tag/gary-lineker/).

Saturday's Match Of The Day will go ahead without a presenter, pundits and several regular commentators amid an impartiality debate.

Jason Mohammad announced he would not be presenting Final Score on Saturday, tweeting: “As you know, Final Score is a TV show very close to my heart. “We all love the BBC and are proud to work for such a great broadcaster. We have made a salary sacrifice today. Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week…” Many of us are freelancers – only paid per game. He said he would not “add to” the corporation’s current statement on the matter but that there had been “very constructive discussions”.

The 62-year-old was told by the publicly-funded British broadcaster to "step back" on Friday from his role presenting its flagship football highlights show " ...

Lineker has hosted refugees in his home and in 2016 criticised treatment of refugees in the UK as being "hideously racist and utterly heartless". A rise to the top of the sports broadcasting then began with appearances as a pundit BBC radio and TV. In a statement on Friday, the BBC described Lineker's sports presenting as "second to none". On the field he won the Copa del Rey in 1988 and Cup Winners' Cup a year later, but the highlight of his time in Catalonia was a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Real Madrid in 1987. He scored over 100 goals in six years at the Foxes and was later honoured as a Freeman of the City of Leicester. Gary Lineker rose to fame as a goalscoring hero for England at World Cups before becoming the leading face of sports broadcasting for the BBC over the past two decades.

Off the field News: Britain's BBC was forced to axe much of its football coverage on Saturday as presenters refused to work in a show of solidarity with ...

Speaking to BBC radio, Greg Dyke, a former director general of the BBC, said he thought the BBC had made a mistake by suspending Lineker and he did not expect the footballer to be silenced. The BBC said Saturday's edition of "Match of the Day" would "focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry." , the BBC's highest paid presenter and the anchor of the football highlights programme "Match of the Day", was taken off air by the broadcaster on Friday after he criticised Britain's migration policy earlier in the week.

The BBC is facing a boycott of its flagship soccer show "Match of the Day," as well as other soccer coverage, following its announcement that presenter Gary ...

But the decision to take Gary Lineker off air is indefensible. 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, and I’m out of order?” Lots of non Public Service Broadcasters can accommodate him and his views and he would be better paid.” “I honestly do not believe, despite a lot of the commentary, that this is about left or right,” Davie said. [tweeted](https://twitter.com/NicolaSturgeon/status/1634258493954727949): “As a strong supporter of public service broadcasting, I want to be able to defend the BBC. “It’s always such a privilege to work with BBC MOTD. But tomorrow I have taken the decision to stand down from my punditry duties. In an interview with BBC News on Saturday, the broadcaster’s Director General Tim Davie was asked if he should resign over the crisis. “The PFA have been speaking to members who wanted to take a collective position and to be able to show their support for those who have chosen not to be part of tonight’s programme,” the statement added. [announced](https://twitter.com/PFA/status/1634490666276323328/photo/1) on Saturday “players involved in today’s games will not be asked to participate in interviews with Match of the Day.” He added: “There is no huge influx. “The BBC will only be able to bring limited sport programming this weekend and our schedules will be updated to reflect that,” a BBC spokesperson said in a statement Saturday.

The BBC apologises for 'limited' sports broadcasts, after presenters drop out of key programmes.

Time to soften the tone, praise Lineker - he’s "a great footballer and is a talented presenter". "We fully understand the depth of feeling and why some freelancers will elect to not work on BBC sport programmes today or choose to join protests." The bill would allow the UK government to detain and remove asylum seekers arriving via illegal routes. The government, it seems, was happy enough to weigh in while the issue gained momentum. But the minute Gary Lineker was suspended it became a bit more tricky. Earlier he said: "At the heart of this is the government’s failure on the asylum system. The minute Lineker was suspended that dynamic changed. It’s an opportunity for Labour to try to get back on the front foot. And it also gives Sir Keir Starmer an opening to criticise the whole small boats policy too. While Rishi Sunak’s statement has softened the tone from the government, and ministers have gone quiet since Lineker was suspended, for Labour the opposite is true. But he said: "Everyone wants to calmly resolve the situation. "As a keen sports fan I know to miss programming is a real blow and I’m sorry about that.

Lineker criticised the British government's new asylum policy this week, comparing the rhetoric used to that of Nazi-era Germany.

One by one leading pundits and commentators have pulled out of Saturday’s Match of the Day in a show of solidarity, leaving one of the BBC’s landmark shows in disarray. Lineker has hosted refugees in his home and in 2016 criticised treatment of refugees in the UK as being “hideously racist and utterly heartless”. A rise to the top of the sports broadcasting then began with appearances as a pundit BBC radio and TV. In a statement on Friday, the BBC described Lineker’s sports presenting as “second to none”. On the field he won the Copa del Rey in 1988 and Cup Winners’ Cup a year later, but the highlight of his time in Catalonia was a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Real Madrid in 1987. He scored over 100 goals in six years at the Foxes and was later honoured as a Freeman of the City of Leicester.

As a growing number of Premier League players and presenters rallied to Lineker's support, Britain's national broadcaster was forced to rip up its radio and ...

Last year, the BBC found Lineker had breached impartiality rules with a tweet about the Conservatives’ alleged Russian donations. Lunchtime TV program “Football Focus” was replaced on Saturday with a rerun episode of antiques show “Bargain Hunt,” while early evening “Final Score” was swapped for “The Repair Shop.” We are working hard to resolve the situation and hope to do so soon.” He was greeted with cheers from bystanders as he arrived. There will not be any post-match player interviews, either. [was suspended](https://apnews.com/article/gary-lineker-bbc-migrants-comments-braverman-86e76bdcec9d9c6773a3a87d5943422b) from “Match of the Day,” a popular highlights show, over a [lawmakers’ language about migrants](https://apnews.com/article/uk-migrants-channel-asylum-human-rights-braverman-497fc05aa4056bc3fdb2b5ba381931c1) to that used in Nazi Germany.

Former England football captain was removed as host of 'Match of the Day' following his controversial comment on Britain's proposed new policy on asylum ...

The statement added that Gary Lineker, should “keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies”. Under the bill, Parliament will set an annual cap on the number of refugees settled via “safe and legal routes”. While retweeting a video from the the Home Office of UK on the asylum policy, Lineker had written, “Good heavens, this is beyond awful” . The British government led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has proposed to detain and remove people who enter the country illegally. 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, and I’m out of order?” The move has, however, drawn criticism for BBC, with many from the sports fraternity standing up in solidarity with Lineker.

The BBC was forced to scrap much of its weekend sports programming as it scrambled to stem a crisis over its suspension of Lineker for comments criticizing ...

Lineker has yet to comment publicly, and on Saturday went to his hometown of Leicester to watch Leicester City play Chelsea in the Premier League. On Friday, the BBC said Lineker would "step back" from "Match of the Day" until it had "an agreed and clear position on his use of social media." There will be no commentary on the matches and no studio punditry from some of the most high-profile stars in the British game who have chosen to support Lineker and not work. We are working hard to resolve the situation and hope to do so soon." Lunchtime TV program "Football Focus" was replaced with a rerun episode of antiques show "Bargain Hunt," while early evening "Final Score" was swapped for "The Repair Shop." British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made his first comments on the storm, saying: "Gary Lineker was a great footballer and is a talented presenter.

In one of the most tumultuous days in BBC's history, Gary Lineker was asked to step back from presenting 'Match of the Day' following his tweets about ...

In Gary Lineker’s case, the BBC cited its position of being impartial as a reason to ‘suspend’ Lineker. We must stop the boats”.](https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/migrants-boats-heated-issue-united-kingdom-immigration-explained-8486537/) In the 78-seconds-long video, Braverman claimed that the British asylum system “has been overwhelmed” and announced a new [Illegal Migration Bill](https://indianexpress.com/article/world/rishi-sunak-uk-illegal-migration-bill-key-points-to-know-8486536/) which will not allow undocumented immigrants entering Britain to remain in the country. The Guardian reported that five episodes of the series will be shown in primetime slots on BBC One. There has already been public criticism of the BBC from the right regarding the show. Lobbyists successfully applied pressure on the BBC to not broadcast the show on television, reported The Guardian. Best known for the Life series (first title Life on Earth was released in 1979), a pioneering body of work that explored earth’s natural heritage like never before, Attenborough has been with the BBC full-time since 1952. 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, and I’m out of order?” “Contracting States shall not expel a refugee lawfully in their territory save on grounds of national security or public order,” Article 32 of the Convention states. “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,” the media organisation said in a statement. However, the BBC has claimed that the episode was never meant for broadcast in the first place. On March 7, Lineker had tweeted, criticising the Tory government’s immigration policy and likening it to “(Nazi) Germany in the 1930s”. In a separate incident, the BBC also announced on Friday that it has decided not to broadcast an episode of Wild Isles, Sir David Attenborough’s flagship new series on British wildlife.

Britain's BBC was forced to axe much of its football coverage on Saturday as presenters refused to work in a show of solidarity with Gary Lineker, ...

“I suspect this is the end of Gary Lineker as a BBC presenter,” he said. Saturday’s edition of “Match of the Day” focused on “match action without studio presentation or punditry.” Former England football captain Lineker, the BBC’s highest-paid presenter and the anchor of the football highlights programme “Match of the Day”, was taken off air by the broadcaster on Friday after he criticised Britain’s migration policy earlier in the week.

BBC director general Tim Davie has apologized over the fracas around star soccer player turned sports pundit Gary Lineker, but will not resign.

The BBC apologized for the disruption of sports programming on Saturday, saying, “The BBC will only be able to bring limited sport programming this weekend and our schedules will be updated to reflect that. Lineker stuck to his position and in solidarity his fellow “Match of the Day Presenters” Ian Wright and Alan Shearer refused to present the program. The committee found that Sharp had committed [“significant errors of judgement.”](https://variety.com/2023/global/news/bbc-chair-richard-sharp-boris-johnson-loan-parliamentary-inquiry-findings-1235520234/) 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.” 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. Last Tuesday, Lineker, commenting on the U.K.

When the BBC's director general, Tim Davie, took over in 2020, he declared his founding principle to be "impartiality". Three years later, a row over that ...

Indeed, there is a statue outside the BBC's headquarters in London of the author of 1984, George Orwell, a former BBC talks producer. Eighty years after Orwell left the BBC, the corporation finds itself in a deepening crisis. He has denied any involvement in arranging the loan. The question is whether that rule is being fairly applied. Twitter is awash with examples of what some people think are presenters who have gone too far over recent years. The passions provoked by Lineker's political tweets and the decision to keep him off air until he and the BBC resolve this issue has poured petrol on a fire that was already well alight, the debate about the BBC's role in British politics and perceptions of bias both to the left and the right.

Gary Lineker was forced to “step back” from his duties presenting the flagship Premier League highlights show after accusing the UK government of using ...

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sunak said he hoped a stand-off between Lineker and the BBC can be “resolved in a timely manner”. “Gary Lineker was a great footballer and is a talented presenter. He was greeted with cheers from bystanders as he arrived for a match Chelsea won 3-1. On Friday, the BBC said Lineker would “step back” from “Match of the Day” until it had “an agreed and clear position on his use of social media”. Lineker was forced to “step back” from his duties presenting the flagship Premier League highlights show after accusing the UK government of using Nazi-era rhetoric in tackling illegal immigration. Gary Lineker was forced to “step back” from his duties presenting the flagship Premier League highlights show after accusing the UK government of using Nazi-era rhetoric in tackling illegal immigration.