After a chaotic weekend that saw its programming reduced or outright cancelled, the BBC backed down from its fight with Gary Lineker, reinstating the pundit and even offering an apology.
On Friday, the BBC suspended Lineker from its flagship “Match of the Day” program after a tweet in which the pundit compared the U.K.’s new asylum policy to Germany in the 1930s.
That decision set off a chain reaction of Lineker’s colleagues walking off the job in solidarity, with a host of BBC programs cancelled and “Match of the Day” presented in a limited fashion.
On Monday, the BBC announced Lineker had been reinstated and that the publicly-funded network would conduct an independent review into its social media usage guidelines.
“Everyone recognizes this has been a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audiences,” BBC director general Tim Davie said in a statement. “I apologize for this.”
Sky Sports News reported that the BBC also offered Lineker a private apology.
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.”
Lineker released a statement of his own on his Twitter account, thanking fans and his colleagues for their outpouring of support.
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. 1/4
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 13, 2023
“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,” he said.
“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.”
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