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Gary Lineker 'delighted' to return as BBC reviews social media rules
Gary Lineker 'delighted' to return as BBC reviews social media rules

Gary Lineker 'delighted' to return as BBC reviews social media rules

Gary Linekar: “I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost 3 decades and I am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD [Match of the Day] chair on Saturday”.

These were Gary Lineker's words on Twitter when he expressed delight to return as BBC reviewed social media rules for staff.

Gary Lineker is returning to BBC screens this weekend after reaching a deal with the corporation - following an impartiality row in which he criticised the government's new asylum policy.

Lineker's next appearance for the BBC will be the coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final clash between Manchester City and Burnley.

The match will kick off on Saturday at 17:45 GMT, with coverage from the Etihad Stadium on BBC One starting at 17:25 GMT.

Gary Lineker was last week taken off air following an impartiality row in which he criticised the government's new asylum policy.

BBC director general Tim Davie announced on Monday that an independent review will be carried out on social media guidelines.

Lineker said he backed the review and looked forward to getting back on air.

He said the last few days had been "surreal" and thanked people for their "incredible support".

In a statement, Mr Davie said: "Everyone recognises this has been a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audiences.

"I apologise for this."

Last week, in a tweet, Lineker compared the language used to set out the government's asylum plan to "that used by Germany in the 30s".

His words, about the government's new Illegal Migration Bill, were criticised by Conservative ministers, including the home secretary.

Lineker was told on Friday he had to apologise for his tweets or would be unable to present Match of the Day at the weekend.

When he refused to do so, he was taken off air, triggering an unprecedented wave of walkouts from fellow pundits and commentators.

Weekend football coverage across the BBC was disrupted due to walkouts triggered by Lineker's suspension.

After announcing he will return to presenting on BBC TV, Lineker tweeted: "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.

"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," he tweeted on Monday morning.

"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," he added.

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

'Abide by the guidelines'

BBC employees are expected to remain impartial on political matters and must follow strict social media guidelines, but there is significant debate about how they should apply to staff outside of news.

Lineker said he backed the independent social media review which Davie said will have a "particular focus" on how the guidelines apply to freelancers outside news and current affairs.

"Shortly, the BBC will announce who will conduct that review," Davie said.

"Between now and when the review reports Gary will abide by the editorial guidelines, that's where we are."

Former controller of BBC editorial policy Richard Ayre said rewriting guidelines was not straightforward and was "going to be a nightmare".

Mr Ayre said: "Whatever emerges will be unsatisfactory to a significant number of people. It's inevitable.

"It's not remotely a problem solved. It's a problem shelved for the time being."

Lineker is expected to return to host Match of the Day's live coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley on Saturday evening.

He is then set to front Sunday's live coverage of Grimsby Town at Brighton & Hove Albion on BBC One.

Davie added: "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."

BBC Scotland confirmed it will have full coverage of Monday evening's Scottish Cup tie between Falkirk and Ayr United; after its programming was also limited over the weekend.

The BBC Board has welcomed the agreement with Lineker following the weekend of disruption.

In a statement the board said: "We believe this is the right time to look at the clarity of the BBC's social media guidance and how it is applied.

"We will support the executive in its continuing work to ensure the organisation delivers world-class, impartial content for all audiences."

Taking Lineker off air backfired horribly - ex-BBC executive

Former head of BBC Sport and BBC TV News Roger Mosey has spoken out, describing the Lineker row as having "backfired horribly" on the BBC's senior management.

Mosey tells Adrian Chiles on Radio 5 Live that he has sympathy for the corporation's leaders in trying to ensure impartiality, but asking the Match of the Day presenter to "step aside was a very big move" and "unwise".

He adds that while many current and former BBC executives shared the view that Lineker's Tweet comparing the government's asylum policies to 1930s Germany was "against the guidelines", his comment's "weren't something you would normally take someone off air for".

Mosey says the problem with the situation was that it "looked like the BBC was giving into the government and Tory MPs" and therefore making the situation worse - even if this wasn't why Lineker was taken off air.

"The problem is that if you get every BBC presenter, whether they’re news or not tweeting anything that comes into their head, in that case, you can see why there might be a problem about impartiality. That’s why it’s better if presenters are not getting stuck into current political issues." from Roger Mosey Former head of BBC Sport

"The problem is that if you get every BBC presenter, whether they’re news or not tweeting anything that comes into their head, in that case, you can see why there might be a problem about impartiality. That’s why it’s better if presenters are not getting stuck into current political issues."

Problem shelved, not solved - former controller of BBC editorial policy

The deal to get Gary Lineker back on air is a "problem shelved for the time being" rather than a long-term solution, says Richard Ayre, who was once the controller of BBC editorial policy.

Ayre who was part of the former BBC Trust until 2016, tells BBC News that he's surprised by the agreement, adding that it looks like the corporation has backed down without Lineker "having apparently given any ground" other than welcoming the review into its social media guidelines.

"So it's bound to look as though it's the BBC that's moved rather than both parties moving, which doesn't bode very well for a long term settlement."

Asked if the deal was a resolution or just kicking the can down the road, he says the situation is "not remotely a problem solved".

"Gary will continue to hold his views. He says he will continue to abide by the BBC's guidelines until they're rewritten. But then, he was supposed to be abiding by the BBC guidelines last week when he tweeted what he tweeted. So watch this space, this story has a long way to run.

Credit: BBC

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