Bristol Rovers have joined the growing boycott of the BBC by declaring they won’t be speaking to any reporters before or after Saturday’s League One encounter with Forest Green Rovers following the corporation’s treatment of Gary Lineker.
Lineker has “stepped back” from presenting Match of the Day for the first time in two decades following his tweets around the government’s new immigration bill which he compared the language to that of Germany in the 30s. The BBC ruled that has breached impartiality guidelines and he’ll remain off air until an agreement can be reached on his use of social media.
The former England, Leicester City and Everton striker has received a wave of support from across the football community with his co-hosts Ian Wright and Alan Shearer declaring they won’t be appearing on the flagship programme in solidarity.
Match of the Day was therefore set to be just a highlights package, without any studio presence, but on Friday night, commentators Steve Wilson and Conor McNamara were among those adding to the boycott by revealing they won’t be working on any Premier League fixtures for the broadcaster.
The PFA has also indicated that individual players and managers may choose not to speak to the BBC.
Rovers tweeted on Saturday morning they also won’t be engaging in any broadcasting obligations around their League One fixture at New Lawn with BBC Radio Bristol providing match commentary and traditionally interviewing Joey Barton before and after each game.
The club tweeted: “We won’t be talking to the BBC before or after today’s game. #WeStandWithGary” with a picture of the presenter.
BBC Radio Bristol will still cover the game but it seems they won’t be in a position to carry Barton’s pre or post-match thoughts, nor will home broadcaster BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
Reaction from supporters has been mainly positive, albeit with some pointing out the club shouldn’t be impacting the work of a local broadcast network for decisions made in London and Manchester.
Bristol City, meanwhile, host Blackpool in the Championship at Ashton Gate in the earlier kick-off of 12:30pm with the game broadcast on Sky Sports but BBC Radio Bristol also providing coverage. There is no indication, as yet, the Robins will also be joining the boycott.
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