Gary Lineker: BBC takes presenter off Match of the Day duties

Saturday's Match of the Day will air without a presenter,

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pundits or its regular commentators after the BBC's controversial decision to take host Gary Lineker off the air.

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Lineker has been forced off his Match of the Day duties by the BBC

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in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to

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launch a new government asylum policy with 1930s Germany.

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He is stepping back from Match Of The Day (MOTD) until an "agreed and clear position"

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on his social media use is made, the corporation said on Friday.

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Following the announcement, former Arsenal striker and pundit Ian

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Wright said he will not take part in Saturday's Match of the Day programme in "solidarity"

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with Lineker and former Newcastle and England striker

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Alan Shearer later also announced he would also not be taking part in the show.

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Former Arsenal and England defender Alex Scott appeared to rule herself out

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of presenting Saturday's Match of the Day, by tweeting: "FYI…"

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and a GIF which quotes "Nah! Not me".

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MOTD regulars Micah Richards and Jermaine Jenas also

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said they would not be appearing on this weekend's show

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A BBC spokesperson said: "Some of our pundits have said that they

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don't wish to appear on the programme while we seek to resolve the situation with Gary.

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"We understand their position and we have decided that the programme will

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focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry."

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