Dan Walker believes the BBC have "lost the dressing room" after pundits and commentators refused to appear on Match of the Day.
Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and others have boycotted Saturday night's edition of the BBC's flagship football programme after the broadcaster controversially took host Gary Lineker off air for criticising the government's use of language towards migrants.
Match of the Day will now air with no studio presentation amid the show of solidarity. Walker, who hosted Football Focus on the BBC for several years, thinks the BBC will struggle to get their presenters and pundits back onside amid the ongoing saga.
"It appears the dressing room may have been lost," tweeted Walker on Saturday morning. In football terms, the management steps down after the dressing room is lost. It remains to be seen how this troubling situation will end over the coming hours and days.
Walker added, "Whatever you think of the tweet, the response, the BBC, MOTD and impartiality... it's interesting to consider what would have happened if Gary had backed the government on Twitter this week. Would there have been the same backlash? Would we be in this situation?"
The row started on Tuesday, when the government announced their controversial Illegal Migration Bill. The legislation aims to detain migrants who enter the country via illegal routes without bail or judicial review before being deported and blocked from returning.
What's your view on the row? Let us know in the comments below!
Many political pundits and human rights groups have condemned the bill, which is led by home secretary Suella Braverman. Lineker described it as "beyond awful" and claimed the government's rhetoric was "not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s".
Lineker's tweet divided opinion. Thousands of people offered their support, but there was a backlash from Tory MPs and right-wing political commentators - who called for the presenter to be taken off air for expressing a valid criticism of the government.
The BBC cowered to those calls on Friday evening. The BBC confirmed Lineker would "step back" from presenting Match of the Day until and agreement on his social media use was reached. It is believed Lineker did not agree to step back and was pushed.
Match of the Day pundit Wright quickly refused to appear on the programme in a show of support for his colleague. "Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I've told the BBC I won't be doing it tomorrow," he tweeted. "Solidarity."
Then, fellow pundit Shearer confirmed his stance. He tweeted, "I have informed the BBC that I won't be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night."
After that, speculation grew on social media as to who would host Match of the Day. Alex Scott and Jermaine Jenas - the apparent successors to Lineker - both quickly distanced themselves from the role. "I wasn't down to be doing match of the day tomorrow, but if I was I would of said no and stood with my fellow pundits and Gary," tweeted Jenas.
Commentators then pulled out of the show, as the BBC was also forced to pull Football Focus and Final Score due to constant withdrawals. Radio 5 Live's football coverage has also been thrown into doubt, with Mark Chapman and Colin Murray both standing down hours before the 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League.
Wright has confirmed he will not appear on Match of the Day again if Lineker is sacked by the BBC.
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.
