Commentators of Match of The Day have joined the boycott of the BBC show after the broadcaster announced it will air on Saturday without presenters or pundits over Gary Lineker‘s removal from the show.
It comes as former England footballers and MOTD regulars including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright previously pulled out of the show in “solidarity” with Lineker, who was told to “step back” from his position.
The BBC has been criticised by its former Director General Greg Dyke, who told the Today Programme that the BBC’s decision was “mistaken” and had “undermined its own credibility”.
Premier League clubs are now holding talks on whether to join the growing boycott of Match of the Day, with current players keen to show unity with ex-professionals such as Lineker, Wright and Shearer.
Lineker has been embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new government asylum policy with 1930s Germany.
It was sparked by his response on Twitter to a Home Office video in which home secretary Suella Braverman unveiled plans to stop people crossing the Channel on small boats.
