Gary Lineker's suspension for tweeting about the Government's migrant bill has been likened to "Putin's Russia" in a scathing attack in the Commons.
Labour's shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell made the remark after claiming the BBC had "capitulated to a Tory cancel campaign" and said chairman Richard Sharp is "completely unable to carry out his role".
Addressing Tory minister Julia Lopez, she said: "What does she think it looks like to the outside world that a much loved sports presenter is taken off the air to tweeting something the government doesn't like?
"It sounds more like Putin's Russia to me."
Ms Powell told MPs the "sorry saga" had "exposed how susceptible the BBC leadership is to government pressure".
The Labour frontbencher said: "After days of holding off the BBC capitulated to a Tory cancel campaign orchestrated by ministers and members of the bench opposite with their friends in the press and took Mr Lineker off air."
The reference to Putin sparked anger, with Ms Lopez responding: "It think it was a disgraceful comparison to make, I think it's way off the mark."
Tory Andrew Percy also lashed out at the Putin reference, telling Ms Powell: "That was beneath her."
Ms Powell set her sights on the BBC chairman, who is being investigated after helping set up an £800,000 loan to Boris Johnson before he was appoiinted.
She said: "The Government has seriously damaged the BBC's reputation by appointing a chair (Richard Sharp) embroiled in the personal finances of the prime minister who gave him the job."
She added: "Her boss is the only person with any power to fire the BBC chair. Does she agree that he is now completely unable to carry out his role of providing confidence, credibility and independence?"
Ms Lopez denied that ministers had applied any pressure on the corporation over Mr Lineker, who came under sustained attack from the Tory hierarchy when he likened language around migrants to 1930s Germany.
She said the Government has "consistently made clear" it is for the BBC to resolve the issue with Gary Lineker and said she refused to give her view of the case.
The Tory minister added: "At no time has any of us as ministers sought to influence the BBC's decision in this case in any way. The events of the last week are rightly a matter for the corporation.
"In response to assertions that he bowed to political pressure from the Government, yesterday the director general Tim Davie said that is a convenient narrative but it's not true."
Responding to Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg's call for the licence fee to be scrapped, Ms Powell said: "Her Government has pursued a deliberate strategy of undermining the BBC to keep it over a barrel to get themselves more coverage.
"It was on full display overnight and I'm sure it will be on full display here today. Threaten the licence fee, cut its funding, undermine its credibility. All in pursuit in keeping their foot on the BBC's throat."
