Colleagues' solidarity with Lineker

BBC coverage affected by withdrawals

- TODD FITZGERALD

THE BBC’s football coverage was ripped up yesterday as presenters and reporters withdrew in solidarity with Gary Lineker after the Match Of The Day presenter was stood down on Friday.

Neither Football Focus nor Final Score survived on BBC One, while Radio 5 Live’s radio coverage was radically altered throughout the day.

Former England internationals Alan Shearer and Ian Wright announced on Friday their boycott of this weekend’s Match Of The Day

The BBC will air “limited sport programming” over the weekend and is “working hard to resolve the situation”, a spokesperson for the broadcaster said, after presenters and pundits pulled out of shows in support of Lineker.

These are high-profile presenters and journalists who joined them on Saturday...

ALEX SCOTT