BBC Match of the Day host Gary Lineker will return to work after being fired for his criticism of the anti-migrant bill. According to Tim Davey, CEO of the British corporation, the presenter will appear on the air this coming weekend.
Lineker took to Twitter to thank colleagues for their support and "an amazing show of solidarity." The host did not fail to remark that "as difficult as the last days have been, it cannot be compared with the need to flee from home from persecution or war and seek refuge in a distant land." In solidarity with Lineker, many BBC sports commentators refused to go on the air. As a result, Match Of The Day and several other football programs came out without hosts.
Tim Davey said that during a conversation with management, Lineker agreed to continue to adhere to the current rules for maintaining social networks for employees of the corporation, at least until an independent review of the appropriateness of these rules is completed. “The BBC Code of Practice for Employee Social Media is meant to help with difficult situations, and I recognize that it needs to be aligned in order to do so. It should be clear, balanced and appropriate,” admitted the CEO of the corporation.
The fact that Lineker, who has been leading Match of the Day since 1999, was suspended from work, it became known on March 11. The reason was his tweets criticizing the bill proposed by Interior Minister Suella Braverman and significantly restricting the rights of refugees. According to the document, people who arrived in the UK illegally will automatically be denied the opportunity to apply for asylum. Lineker compared this initiative to the policies of Nazi Germany.
The presenter has supported refugees in the past, in particular, in 2020 he said that he was ready to shelter them in his own house in Surrey.