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George Bennett

Match of the Day to air without presenters or pundits after Gary Lineker fallout

No presenters or pundits will feature on Match of the Day on Saturday night. The programme will 'focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry', according to a BBC spokesperson.

The move comes after presenter Gary Lineker was withdrawn from the show until he and the BBC have an "agreed and clear position on his use of social media".

Following the BBC's announcement, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright both informed the BBC that they won't be appearing on this week's edition of Match of the Day.

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Steve Wilson has also stated that Match of the Day commentators have decided to 'step down' from tonight's broadcast.

The BBC Match of the Day commentator tweeted: "As commentators on MOTD, we have decided to step down from tomorrow night's broadcast. We are comforted that football fans who want to watch their teams should still be able to do so, as management can use World Feed commentary if they wish.

"However, in the circumstances, we do not feel it would be appropriate to take part in the programme."

Lineker has reportedly claimed the BBC "told him" he had to step back from presenting Match Of The Day amid criticism of his comments about the Government's new asylum policy. The corporation said on Friday that it had "decided" Lineker would take a break from presenting the BBC One football highlights show until an "agreed and clear position" on his use of social media had been reached.

The presenter 62, has been embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany on Twitter. This has prompted criticism from Downing Street, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer and Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who accused him of "diminishing the unspeakable tragedy" of the Holocaust.

Channel 5 News presenter Dan Walker said Lineker had told him "(the BBC) told me I have to step back".

"It's one of those strange situations where I'm actually texting the man himself at the moment," he said on the programme.

"And I have asked Gary Lineker the question about whether he is stepping back or whether the BBC have told him to step back and I've told him that if he responds to me that I will read out that text on air. There's one word in there I can't use, but he has said 'No, they've told me I have to step back'.

"So Gary Lineker wants to continue to present Match Of The Day and is not apologising for what he's said, but he's said it's a BBC decision to force him to not present the programme at the moment."

A spokesman for Lineker refused to comment further.

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