BBC apologise over changes to weekend’s sporting schedule amid Gary Lineker row | Sportscene to run amended format similar to Match of the Day-
Alex Scott and other pundits have pulled out of presenting the Football Focus programme, in solidarity with Gary Lineker, with Sportscene also impacted.
Pundits have also pulled out of presenting the Final Score programme with the show also cancelled.
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Hide AdJason Mohammad said he will not be presenting the BBC’s Final Score programme on Saturday.
Pundit Glenn Murray also said he had pulled out of appearing on Football Focus and Final Score on Saturday.
Sports reporter Marc Webber tweeted: “As Final Score reporters, we have decided to stand down from our duties today in solidarity with Gary Lineker. As a result, no Final Score will be broadcast today.
BBC has pulled its Radio 5 Live Sports coverage, saying there had been a change of schedule.
Former England footballers and MOTD regulars including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright announced on Friday that they would be boycotting the show in solidarity with Lineker.
We’ll have live updates and the latest news regarding football programming on the BBC.
RECAP: Football Focus dropped as Alex Scott pulls out in support of Gary Lineker | Final Score cancelled | BBC 5Live coverage pulled
BBC presenter Colin Murray said in a tweet, 5 Live’s Fighting Talk is not airing: “No @FightingTalk316 today, for obvious reasons.
“In the interest of transparency, this was a decision taken by the entire FT team and myself.”
What are the BBC rules on impartiality?
There been some confusion over where Gary Lineker fits into the BBC guidelines given he is a freelance and not in the news department. But here are the BBC rules
What do BBC guidelines state?
The BBC says that it is “committed” to achieving due impartiality in all its output, describing it as “fundamental to our reputation, our values and the trust of audiences”.
The corporation’s guidelines state that the impartiality must be “adequate and appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any signposting that may influence that expectation”.
It adds that BBC output must always “scrutinise arguments, question consensus and hold power to account” with both consistency and due impartiality.
Richard Sambrook, former director of news at the BBC and director of BBC Global News and the BBC World Service, told the PA news agency that “impartiality is crucial” for the BBC and staff in “everything they do”.
Meanwhile GB News have announced that they will be hosting an alternative Match of the Day - but with no footage of the football...
Alternatively you could just watch the hihglights on the Sky Sports Youtube channel at 530pm.
Gary Lineker is on his way to watch a Leicester City match, his son Harry has said.
He told reporters outside Lineker’s home in Barnes, south-west London, as he left to walk the dog: “He has gone to Leicester to watch the game. He will be back this evening.”
If you are just joining us - here’s a look at some key points.
- Football Focus did not air today and was replaced by Bargain Hunt on the BBC One schedule after presenter Alex Scott said it “doesn’t feel right” to go ahead with the show
- Final Score also will not go ahead, with The Repair Shop now listed for 4:30pm after presenter Jason Mohammad also said he would not appear today
- 5Live coverage has been cancelled with Dion Dublin being one of many to tweet he would not be partaking.
- Presenter Colin Murray said BBC 5 Live’s Fighting Talk was not airing today
- Match Of The Day pundit Ian Wright has said he’ll quit if the BBC “gets rid” of Lineker
5 Live, which would normally be covering today’s football matches, including commentary and punditry is running pre-recorded content.
A senior source told the BBC “5 Live’s sports programmes are currently being impacted and we are running recorded content”.
Will Gary Lineker return? The bookies seem to think so.
Gary Lineker is odds on at 8/11 to patch things up with the BBC and present next week’s show according to the latest odds from bettingsites.co.uk
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