BBC set to show Chelsea’s top-of-the-table clash with United in the WSL but with no presentation

BBC set to show Chelsea’s top-of-the-table clash with Manchester United in the WSL… but with NO presentation after broadcaster boycotts following Gary Lineker’s suspension from the network

  • The game between Chelsea and United is the biggest of the WSL season so far
  • The BBC will show the top-of-the-table clash today but with no presentation
  • The decision was made due to boycotts following Gary Lineker’s suspension

The BBC are set to show Chelsea’s top-of-the-table clash with Manchester United in the WSL later today, but with no presentation amid the fallout from Gary Lineker’s suspension. 

The Match of the Day host has been forced to ‘step back’ from presenting the Saturday night show after breaching the BBC’s ‘social media guidelines’ due to a tweet which compared the language used to promote a new Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany.

Ian Wright and Alan Shearer pulled out of their punditry duties while the programme’s in solidarity with their colleague while Alex Scott refused to host Football Focus on Saturday morning.

As a result, it was believed that the BBC’s coverage of this afternoon’s Women’s Super League game between Chelsea and Man United would be under serious threat. 

The highly-anticipated fixture is due to be broadcast live on BBC Two. But, talks over the coverage are still ongoing amid given several presenters, pundits and commentators have walked out. 

The BBC are set to show Chelsea’s top-of-the-table clash with Manchester United in the WSL later today, but with no presentation amid the fallout from Gary Lineker’s suspension 

The BBC programme is in 'crisis' with no presenters, pundits or commentators for the first time in its history after the corporation's decision to boot Lineker off air led to mass walkouts

The BBC programme is in ‘crisis’ with no presenters, pundits or commentators for the first time in its history after the corporation’s decision to boot Lineker off air led to mass walkouts

Scott is one of those who has decided to boycott football coverage on the BBC this weekend

Scott is one of those who has decided to boycott football coverage on the BBC this weekend

Scott is one of the main presenters for women’s football on the BBC but has made her stance clear while Kelly Somers, another frequent host of Women’s Super League matches, also tweeted that she would not be appearing on the BBC this weekend.

Eilidh Barbour, another BBC presenter, has liked tweets from colleagues who have pulled out from working on the broadcaster’s sports programmes.

The crisis started when Lineker likened the language used by the Conservative party in its latest migrant policy, aimed at stopping boats crossing the channel, to something out of Germany in the 1930s.

Various Tory politicians and figures rejected the former England striker’s relation, with Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, labelling them ‘unhelpful’.

‘I think it’s unhelpful to compare our measures, which are lawful, proportionate and – indeed – compassionate, to 1930s Germany,’ she said.

It had seemed to have calmed down by Thursday however, with Lineker himself tweeting as much. He added that he was looking forward to hosting the BBC’s flagship highlights programme on Saturday evening.

However, in a remarkable turn of events, it was announced on Friday that the broadcaster, who has hosted Match of the Day since 1999, would be stepping back from the programme until an agreement could be reached on his use of social media.

‘The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines,’ the corporation announced.

‘The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.

The crisis started when Gary Lineker likened the language used by the Conservative party in its latest migrant policy to something out of Germany in the 1930s

The crisis started when Gary Lineker likened the language used by the Conservative party in its latest migrant policy to something out of Germany in the 1930s 

‘When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. We have never said that Gary should be an opinion free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.’

As a result, several of Lineker’s colleagues and friends decided to boycott the BBC. Shearer and Wright were among those that refused to take part in BBC’s coverage this weekend. 

However, there have been concerns over whether this course of action would have a knock-on affect for the WSL game this afternoon.  

The game between Chelsea and United is arguably the biggest of the WSL season so far, with the Red Devils one point ahead of the Blues at the top of the table.

More to follow… 

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