LAST UPDATE | 13 Mar 2023

BBC CHAIRMAN RICHARD SHARP is under growing pressure to resign after the controversy ignited by the Gary Lineker impartiality row placed fresh scrutiny on the corporation’s independence.

Lineker this morning confirmed that he will return to Match of Day, tweeting that he was “delighted” that he was able to navigate “a way through this” with the BBC. 

The BBC also announced that it will begin an independent review of its social media guidelines, which will focus on how they apply to freelancers who work with the broadcaster outside of its newsroom. 

In full Lineker’s statement read:”After a surreal few days, I’m delighted that we have navigated a way through this. I want to thank you all for the incredible support, particularly my colleagues at BBC Sport, for the remarkable show of solidarity. Football is a team game but their backing was overwhelming.

“I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost three decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday.

“A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you

 ”We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people. Thank you.” 

The news comes after reports of “growing confidence” that the former England player would return to host the popular show following a weekend which saw the BBC’s sports coverage suffer severe disruption.

But as Lineker celebrated the end of his brief on-screen absence, questions continued to be asked of Sharp and BBC Director-General Tim Davie as various commentators criticised the “muddle” over impartiality and “mess” of recent days.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said that Sharp’s position was “increasingly untenable”, amid an ongoing review after it emerged he had helped former prime minister Boris Johnson secure an £800,000 loan facility.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell also questioned Sharp’s position in light of the Lineker row, while Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called on the chairman to resign, saying his position is “totally untenable”.

Sunak refuses to back Sharp

As the investigation undertaken into his appointment continues, Rishi Sunak also refused to explicitly back the corporation chairman. The pair have known each other since Sharp was Sunak’s mentor at Goldman Sachs. 

Asked if he is a man of integrity, Sunak said: “Richard Sharp was appointed by a government before my time, before I was Prime Minister. That process is being reviewed again by someone who has been appointed independently. It’s right that process finishes its course. It wouldn’t be right for me to speculate before then.”

'Richard Sharp's position is increasingly untenable'

Labour leader Sir @Keir_Starmer questions 'how on earth' the BBC chairman can remain in position while @GaryLineker was taken off air https://t.co/C2LiI7nOcJ pic.twitter.com/LoC7Y32xSY

— ITV News Politics (@ITVNewsPolitics) March 13, 2023

Asked if he could endorse Sharp’s character, Sunak said: “I’ve known him obviously for a long time. But with regards to his appointment, it’s right that that’s done independently and rigorously. That process happened before I was Prime Minister, had nothing to do with me and at the time was conducted in all the way that it should have been.”

But Sunak has faced questions too over the row, with Labour accusing the Tories of long seeking to undermine the public service broadcaster and Number 10 seemingly distancing itself from the remarks of ministers about the former England star.

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt was among those targeting the former footballer last week, accusing Labour of “borrowing from the Gary Lineker playbook” by being the “party of goal hangers” taking easy shots against the Government.

Downing Street today refused to endorse those comments and insisted rules for employees were a matter for the BBC, as a spokesman said: “We are pleased that this situation has been resolved and that fans will be able to watch Match Of The Day as normal this weekend.”

Elsewhere, DUP chief whip Sammy Wilson hinted that the BBC should be defunded in a tweet, saying that the “cowardly reinstatement” of Lineker was “yet another reason why we should no longer be compelled to finance this bloated and politically biased corporation”.

The BBC faces a strike on Wednesday when up to 1,000 journalists are expected to walk out on the same day Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is due to deliver his spring Budget.

BBC apology

This morning, Tim Davie made a statement apologising for the difficulties caused to staff, presenters, and the broadcaster’s audiences, as a result of “the potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC’s social media guidance”. 

Davie announced that a review led by an “independent expert” into this guidance will now take place. 

“The BBC and myself are aware that Gary is in favour of such a review,” he said. 

“Shortly, the BBC will announce who will conduct that review. Whilst this work is undertaken, the BBC’s current social media guidance remains in place.

“Gary is a valued part of the BBC and I know how much the BBC means to Gary, and I look forward to him presenting our coverage this coming weekend,” Davie added. 

Lineker this morning tweeted thanking Davie for his “understanding” following the fall out. 

“He has an almost impossible job keeping everybody happy, particularly in the area of impartiality. I am delighted that we’ll continue to fight the good fight, together,” the presenter added. 

Davie has rejected allegations that he “bowed to pressure” from Tory MPs an Conservative news outlets in the course of the row with Lineker. 

He acknowledged that he had some involvement with the Conservative Party thirty years ago, but he was adamant that his judgement was not affected by “one party or the other”. 

“That is not how we work editorially in the BBC,” he said.  

Celebrities and politicians reacted to the news that Lineker is set to reappear on Match of the Day throughout the day.

Irish comedian Dara Ó Briain tweeted the former football player, telling him “well done at enduring this ridiculous, contrived “controversy”. 

“People are perfectly capable of handling the idea that a grown-up can have a public job and also be separately, politically engaged in their own time. We’re not babies,” he added. 

Yesterday Lineker’s son George tweeted in support of him. 

“Proud of the old man after a busy few days. Shouldn’t need to apologise for being a good person and standing by his word. The reaction of the public has been overwhelming. Thanks for the support,” he said. 

Proud of the old man after a busy few days. Shouldn’t need to apologise for being a good person and standing by his word. The reaction of the public has been overwhelming. Thanks for the support 👊 pic.twitter.com/lCdsGk3li1

— George Lineker (@GeorgeLineker) March 12, 2023

Comments on the UK government’s asylum policy

Lineker did not appear on the football highlights programme after he was told to stand down from the role when he compared language used to launch a new UK government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany in a tweet.

We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people. Thank you. ❤️ 4/4

— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 13, 2023

Lineker had commented on a Twitter video put out by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman in which she unveiled government plans to stop migrant boats crossing the Channel.

“Good heavens, this is beyond awful,” Lineker wrote.

Announcing the plans in the Commons, Braverman said asylum seekers arriving illegally will be detained without bail or judicial review for 28 days before being “swiftly removed” to their home country or a “safe third country” such as Rwanda. They face a lifetime ban on returning once deported and will never be allowed to settle in the country or gain citizenship.

Responding to Lineker’s initial remarks, one Twitter user described his comment as “out of order”, adding that it was “easy to pontificate when it doesn’t affect you”.

Lineker responded: “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, and I’m out of order?”

He later said: “I have never known such love and support in my life than I’m getting this morning (England World Cup goals aside, possibly). I want to thank each and every one of you. It means a lot. I’ll continue to try and speak up for those poor souls that have no voice. Cheers all.”  

Disruption to BBC coverage

Football coverage on BBC TV and radio shows was hit across the weekend as fellow pundits, presenters and reporters, including Alan Shearer, Alex Scott and Ian Wright walked out in solidarity with Lineker.

Match Of The Day aired for only 20 minutes on Saturday without accompanying commentary or analysis from presenters, with yesterday’s edition following a similar format and running for a reduced 15 minutes.

Coverage of the Women’s Super League match between Chelsea and Manchester United aired without a pre-match presentation yesterday and Radio 5 Live replaced much of its usual live sports coverage over the weekend with pre-recorded content.

The broadcaster’s highest-paid presenter spent his Saturday afternoon supporting his home club Leicester City as they played Chelsea.

Davie apologised for the disruption to the sporting schedule this weekend but said he will not resign.