The Daily Telegraph

Lineker set to return as BBC bosses back down

Corporatio­n to face questions over taxpayer funding after making deal with presenter

- By Anita Singh and Susie Coen

THE BBC will climb down in its row with Gary Lineker and allow him to return as Match of the Day host this weekend, it is understood.

The corporatio­n i s expected to announce that it is reviewing its guidelines on the use of social media in the wake of the controvers­y. In return, it is believed that Lineker will agree to be more careful about what he tweets. He may also make some form of apology.

An announceme­nt that the matter has been resolved is expected to be made as early as today, with the BBC conceding that its guidance on social media restrictio­ns was unclear.

Tim Davie, the director-general, will now face criticism over the BBC’S commitment to impartiali­ty and whether it can justify being funded by the licence fee. David Jones, a former Cabinet mini ster, said: “Davie knows Lineker behaved badly. He simply hasn’t the authority to deal with him robustly.”

Last night, both sides were said to be “close to a resolution”. An insider said: “Both sides have been working on something that will satisfy the BBC’S concerns and allow Gary back on air. Things are going in the right direction.”

It has long been planned that Saturday’s Match of the Day be hosted by Mark Chapman, but Lineker will host the Match of the Day Live: FA Cup coverage in the afternoon.

The decision to review the social media guidelines is particular­ly embarrassi­ng for Mr Davie because they were written in 2020 at his request and include what came to be known as the “Lineker Clause”. It stated that presenters with a particular­ly high profile had an additional responsibi­lity to avoid taking sides on party political issues.

A review is expected to look again at whether sports and entertainm­ent presenters should be held to the same standards as BBC News journalist­s.

The row broke out last week when Lineker, the BBC’S highest-paid star, tweeted in response to Suella Braverman’s plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel. He said: “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.”

I nitially, t he BBC t ook a f i rm approach, saying that Lineker had clearly breached the guidelines and would be removed from Match of the Day until further notice.

However, the corporatio­n is being forced to row back after its sports coverage collapsed over the weekend, with presenters and commentato­rs refusing to go on air in solidarity with Lineker.

Match of the Day was scrapped and replaced with a 20-minute highlights show with no presenter or theme tune. However, viewing figures were up nearly half a million on the previous week as people tuned in out of curiosity.

Radio 5 Live’s weekend programmin­g fell apart and last night’s Match of the Day 2 was also a short highlights package with no presenter.

Bosses were left with no choice but to give ground if they were to avoid the unofficial strike running into a second week. BBC Sport is to hold staff sessions today to address workers’ concerns.

Polling over the weekend showed that the majority of the public sided with Lineker, while Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, urged that the issue be resolved “in a timely fashion”.

Mr Davie spent the weekend in what sources described as “intensive negotiatio­ns”, flying back from Washington DC to strike a deal with Lineker and his representa­tives. It was notable that Lineker, a prolific tweeter, stayed silent on social media over the weekend.

He spent yesterday having lunch with his sons and walking his dog. Asked outside his home if he had “come to an agreement with the BBC”, he replied: “I can’t say anything at the

moment, I’m sorry.” One son, George, told reporters: “He loves Match of the Day. But he won’t ever back down on his word.”

However, Andrew Castle, the sports presenter, told LBC l i steners that Lineker had privately conceded that his language was over the top.

“I said to him that I thought to draw parallels between the rise of Nazism in the 1930s, and the immigratio­n policy of a serving Conservati­ve Party was a step too far, and he agreed,” Castle said.

Tory MPS raised concerns that any resolution could call into question the BBC’S impartiali­ty. Tom Hunt, MP for Ipswich, said: “It is clear Gary Lineker breached impartiali­ty rules. If he does come back we need to have confidence that he won’t do this again.

“His comments were not only grossly offensive, wrong-headed and unwise, he has shown a complete lack of repentance and contrition. He thinks he can act with impunity.

“We need an apology from him about the comments he made and then we need to have details about what is being put in place to stop this happening in future. If those two things aren’t both addressed, I’ve got concerns about BBC impartiali­ty and what this means for the broadcaste­r.”

Craig Mackinlay, MP f or South Thanet, said that Lineker must be bound by rules banning him from tweeting about politics.

He said: “Behind the scenes, it looks like the BBC has caved in quickly.”

David Jones, MP for Clwyd West and a former Cabinet minister, said: “This says more about the weakness of the director- general. If he reinstates Lineker without an enforceabl­e undertakin­g not to engage in political tweeting again, he’ll have let all licence fee payers down.”

 ?? ?? Gary Lineker is expected to be back hosting Match of the Day after coming to a mutual agreement with the BBC
Gary Lineker is expected to be back hosting Match of the Day after coming to a mutual agreement with the BBC

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