Gary Lineker substituted as BBC Match of the Day host

Photo credit: Instagram /@GaryLineker
Photo credit: Instagram /@GaryLineker

Gary Lineker has resumed his role on BBC Match of the Day on Saturday since the fall out over his comments on social media. The football presenter was taken off his Match of the Day duties by the BBC as he refused to apologise for his comments posted on Twitter, prompting football pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer to stand in solidarity with him by refusing to appear on the show.  Many A-listers and politicians took to social media to denounce BBC’s decision to suspend Lineker.

After making his return to BBC’s flagship football coverage on Saturday, Lineker was replaced for yesterday’s FA Cup coverage, by Alex Scott due to illness.

The BBC tweeted:

“Due to illness, we've got a line-up change for today's live FA Cup coverage of Brighton v Grimsby on BBC One. As viewers will have noticed yesterday, Gary Lineker was struggling with his voice and unfortunately it has deteriorated overnight. Alex Scott will be hosting instead”.

Lineker’s comments sparked controversy by comparing the government's small boats policy with pre-Second World War Germany, drawing criticism from some Conservative politicians.