BBC Director General Tim Davie has insisted that Match of the Day will press on as normal after the corporation took regular host Gary Lineker off air.
“I think we always look to take proportionate action – and I think that’s what we’ve done,” he told BBC News. “I don’t want to add to the statement. I think we’ve had very constructive discussions. The statement is very clear and that’s where we are."
On the pundits boycotting the show, he added: “I absolutely respect peoples’ right to make that decision and BBC Sport have to look at the programme they’re going to produce on the weekend, as normal.”
The row started when Lineker described the government's new Migration Bill as "beyond awful" after it was unveiled by home secretary Suella Braverman on Tuesday, later adding: "This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s."
After discussions throughout the week a BBC spokesperson confirmed on Friday that Lineker was being taken off air, saying: "The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.
"The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.
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"When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. We have never said that Gary should be an opinion free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies."
Arsenal legend Ian Wright, Newcastle icon Alan Shearer, Alex Scott, Micah Richards and Jermaine Jenas have all confirmed they will not be appearing on Saturday's show in solidarity with Lineker.
Wright tweeted: "Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity."
Later on Friday evening, his punditry colleague Shearer made the same decision. He tweeted: "I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night."
Scott, who is set to present Football Focus on Saturday, tweeted a GIF of Bernie Sanders saying "Nah! Not me" in an apparent response to people suggesting she might fill Lineker's role on Saturday.
Pundit Micah tweeted: "I was not due to be working on MOTD tomorrow, but if I was, I would find myself taking the same decision that @IanWright0 & @alanshearer have."
With all available pundits stepping back in solidarity with Lineker, the BBC have confirmed they will air Match of the Day without studio presentation or punditry.
A spokesperson said: “Some of our pundits have said that they don’t wish to appear on the programme while we seek to resolve the situation with Gary.
“We understand their position and we have decided that the programme will focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry.”
The Mirror has launched a petition to have Gary Lineker reinstated at the BBC and as the host of Match of the Day. Sign it here.
