Gary Lineker – latest: ‘Confidence is growing’ that presenter will return to BBC show

Talks between the BBC and Gary Lineker are “moving in the right direction” but not all issues have been “fully resolved” at this stage, BBC News reports.

It comes as the upset has entered day two with the match on day 2 lasting just 14 minutes with no pundits or commentary.

Former Tory chancellor George Osborne has backed Gary Lineker in the row over his comments on Rishi Sunak’s new immigration plan, a major blow to the prime minister.

Mr Osborne backed Mr Lineker, criticizing the rhetoric around asylum policy from some in his own party.

“I personally think some of the language used on immigration by some Conservatives – not all – is not acceptable,” he told Channel 4.

The BBC director-general facing calls to resign over the Gary Lineker row is a former Pepsi executive with previous experience dealing with controversies at the company.

Tim Davie has had a tumultuous week after his decision to suspend Lineker over a tweet about the government’s asylum policy caused major disruption in the company’s sports coverage, with several presenters and reporters pulling out in solidarity with the former England star.

Faced with an open revolt in the ranks of the company’s top sporting talent, Mr Davie has already said he wants Lineker “back on air” delivering “world-class sports coverage” alongside the BBC.

The presenter’s words were offensive and wrong, but the company handled them badly, she says The independent.

George Lineker told The Sunday Mirror: “Dad is a good man, a good man and I’m proud of him for keeping his word. That’s why he was pulled from the show – because he wasn’t apologizing. But he will always speak for people who have no voice.

“He is passionate about helping refugee charities – he took in two refugees who he is still in touch with and tries to help.

“It means a lot to him to stand up for people whose only hope is to escape a country with only the clothes on their backs. That’s why he was so steadfast.

“Will he return to Match of the Day? I think so – he likes Match of the Day. But he will never go back on his word.”

Gary Lineker’s son has said he believes the presenter will return to Match Of The Day – but that he will not “go back on his word”, according to reports.

In an interview with The Sunday Mirror, the former England striker’s eldest son George claimed his father was “a bit disappointed” with the BBC asking him to step down from hosting Saturday’s Match Of The Day after he compared the language which was used to start a new one. Government policy on asylum seekers with 1930s Germany in a tweet.

But he said Lineker had been “overwhelmed with support” from news colleagues who had quit various BBC sports shows in solidarity with him, particularly his co-presenters Ian Wright and Alan Shearer.

In 2022, Lineker topped the BBC’s highest-earning list for the fifth consecutive year, earning £1.35 million.

Last year, he was paid £1.36m, having taken a cut in 2020 from his previous salary of £1.75m. Lineker presented Match of the day since 1999, making him the show’s longest-running host.

BBC chairman Richard Sharpe is facing mounting pressure to quit as the company’s impartiality policy was called into question after Gary Lineker was ordered to stand down from presenting Match Of The Day.

Mr Sharpe, who was appointed chairman in February 2021, has been embroiled in a row over helping former prime minister Boris Johnson secure an £800,000 loan facility in recent months.

His appointment is being investigated but now faces renewed scrutiny as his position is called into question amid a backlash against the BBC’s decision to ax Lineker over a comparison of language used to launch a new government policy on asylum seekers with 1930s Germany. a tweet.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell both questioned Mr Sharp’s position in light of the Lineker controversy.

Ms Reeves told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuensberg: “He’s still in his job. Can’t Gary Lineker present the football commentary?’

He added: “The Tories obviously put enormous pressure on the government to get rid of Gary Lineker, I don’t recall Tory MPs themselves crying about impartiality when these revelations about Richard Sharp came out.”

Ms Powell wrote to Culture Secretary Lucy Fraser to demand that Mr Sharpe’s position be “urgently clarified”, saying his involvement in the £800,000 loan facility for Johnson had “deeply damaged the perception of his impartiality and independence BBC by the government”.

She added in her letter: “As the ultimate arbiter of these matters, Richard Sharpe’s position, which was already increasingly untenable, must be urgently clarified.

“It is he who must give staff, viewers and whistleblowers confidence that the organization has acted proportionately and fairly. He is completely incapable of performing this function.”

He also asked the minister to clarify when the inquiry into Mr Sharp’s appointment would be completed.

The BBC director-general facing calls to resign over the Gary Lineker row is a former Pepsi executive with previous experience dealing with controversies at the company.

Tim Davie has had a tumultuous week after his decision to suspend Lineker over a tweet about the government’s asylum policy caused major disruption in the company’s sports coverage, with several presenters and reporters pulling out in solidarity with the former England star.

Faced with open revolt among the company’s top sports presenting talent, Mr Davie has already said he wants Lineker “back on air” delivering “world-class sports coverage” alongside the BBC.