Match Of The Day went ahead on Saturday night in almost silence without a presenter, pundits and regular commentators, following the fallout over presenter Gary Lineker. Co-stars Alan Shearer and Ian Wright announced they would be boycotting the show, in solidarity with the sports broadcaster and footballing icon, late on Friday evening.
With the BBC's sporting schedule thrown into disarray this weekend, the football highlights programme was screened in a much shorter time of just 20 minutes. The show was aired with a very different look following an apology from an announcer.
They said: "We're sorry that we're unable to show our normal Match of the Day including commentary tonight, but here now is the best action from today's premier league matches."
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Gary stepped back from Match of the Day in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new government asylum policy with 1930s Germany on Twitter. On Friday the BBC announced that he would take a break from presenting the flagship show until an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media had been reached.
As well as the show's familiar faces, viewers also quickly clocked that the show's rousing theme tune was also missing. @razzo1 said: "#MOTD not even getting the opening theme tune surely that’s a first" and @FPLBri shouted: "WEIRDEST MOTD EVER!"
@Shelley_Bxx said: "Gutted we have lost the #MOTD tune." @PottskyRob joked: "Even the theme tune refused to be part of the show." And @SteveRightNLeft said: "How ridiculous the BBC couldn't even play the theme tune."
@ColPmusic asked: "No theme tune tonight????" And @suzy_woozzy quipped: "Couldn't they have had someone at least whistle the theme tune as a novelty."
@Helen_Breese remarked: "How am I supposed to fall asleep on the sofa without the soothing tones of the #MOTD theme tune and commentary??" @c__ferrara said jokingly: "Even the theme tune is boycotting #MOTD. Telly = off." And @EdwardTHardy echoed: "Even the Match of the Day theme tune boycotted the show in solidarity with Gary Lineker."
@MartinKnight_commented: "I understand why no intros & punditry on #MOTD tonight, but nobody to flick the theme tune switch?" And @JimmyMarkham3 pointed out: "Not even the theme tune this match of the day is weird!"
The BBC released a statement apologising for the limiting of its sports programming this weekend. It also said it was it is “working hard to resolve the situation and hope to do so soon." Match of the Day is one of the BBC's longest-running shows, having been on air since August 1964.
In 2015 Guinness World Records recognised it as the longest-running football television programme in the world. The show's theme tune was voted the most recognised TV theme tune in a 2010 poll.
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