It is understood that 'Football Focus' will not air as pundits have withdrawn from the programme.
From my perspective it is a moribund programme well past its 'Sell-By date'.
There will be no outpouring of grief in the Willo abode.

Tunbridge

Very impartial I would say, as her husband is a Tory donor.

And Richard Sharp, BBC Chairman arranged a loan for Johnson.

But that's ok then, nothing to see here?

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Richard Sharp is also a self proclaimed donor to the tory party and Boris Johnson recommended him to be BBC chairman after he helped arrange loan for him.

I said a few days ago that it seemed Linekers removal looked inevitable given the positions on both sides and so it has been proved.

Leaving aside the comments about MOTD itself, its tiredness and lack of actual football and concentrating only on the issue of whether Lineker should be able to make whatever comments he likes, on anything he wants, in his own time, I can see both sides of the argument. You don't have to agree with what Lineker said to agree with that.

I can see the need for the BBC to not only be impartial but to be seen to be impartial. However, I can also see the need for the BBC to be free of government influence and be seen to be free of government influence.

This is a much bigger issue than just what has happened to Lineker, or whether you agree, or disagree with his political views or those of the government. With another government the reverse could happen.

I read what Greg Dyke said today and am persuaded by it. I won't repeat it all, but essentially he thinks the precedent in the BBC is that news and current affairs employees are expected to be impartial, and not the rest. Otherwise, no-body working in another area could ever express an opinion about anything, which clearly doesn't happen. Dyke, a former BBC Chairman, thinks what the BBC did yesterday was a mistake.

If news and current affairs presenters can discuss sports in their private lives, and they obviously do, why cannot sports presenters discuss politics in theirs?

Politics are not discussed on MOTD. Political actions by the players might be, but that's in context.

This could well be a crunch point for Richard Sharp, the BBC Chairman who is already seen as being too close to the government. If he fails to back his staff he may face a growing rebellion from them. Whether Tim Davie, the BBC Director General, can pour oil on the water and find a workable compromise is an open question, but it doesn't appear likely at the moment.

I know the BBC haters will be rejoicing at Lineker and the BBC "finally" being put in their place and suffering some "cancel culture" medicine of their own, but this is more important than political point scoring. Those of us who believe the BBC to be an essential bastion against government interference, and ultimate control, over what we are allowed to be told, will be watching and waiting to make sure it's preserved.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

All these pundits showing solidarity towards Lineker and withdrawing their services from MOTD and 'Football Focus'.

Interesting that some were not prepared to show any moral solidarity with the abused migrant workers, women, or people in Qatar subjected to human rights abuses.
Lineker etc, only virtue signal when the target is a Conservative Government.

Edited by Willo (11 Mar 2023 11.09am)

I wholeheartedly concur with these sentiments.

The 'Virtue signalling' Lineker (A very poor man's Des Lynam) who I am led to believe was rewarded with a BBC bonus for his work at the World Cup.