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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Neil Shaw

Why is Football Focus not on TV today

The BBC has pulled Football Focus at 12pm from its Saturday schedule, with Bargain Hunt showing in its place. It comes after Alex Scott confirmed she would not be presenting the football preview show at noon, saying “it doesn’t feel right for me to go ahead with the show today”.

She was one of a host of presenters to pull out of BBC shows after Gary Lineker was told to step back from hosting Match Of The Day in a row over impartiality.

Pundit Glenn Murray also said he had pulled out of appearing on Football Focus and Final Score on Saturday.

The former Brighton striker tweeted: “Was meant to be up in Media City today but reflecting last night I felt it was the right thing to do to step away from Focus & Score today. Hoping normal service resumes next week.”

Saturday’s Match Of The Day will go ahead without a presenter, pundits and several regular commentators after Lineker was told to step back from hosting the BBC show.

Lineker, 62, became embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany on Twitter.

The broadcaster said it had “decided” Lineker would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media had been reached.

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