Several BBC TV and radio sports shows were disrupted over the weekend as presenters, football stars and commentators boycotted the channel, including its beloved Saturday night sports show, Match of the Day” – which was recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest-running football television broadcast in history.
It began when the British government this week proposed returning almost all asylum seekers arriving on small boats via the English Channel to their country of origin or to a “safe third country”, as Rwanda. The bill has been criticized by rights groups, and the United Nations described it as a “blatant violation” of international law.
Among the critics was the former England football captain. turned TV pundit star Gary Lineker, who hosts “Match of the Day” – which describes himself as “the most famous football show in the world” and is watched by millions of people.
Lineker denounced the government’s proposal as an “extremely cruel policy directed against the most vulnerable”, in a statement. Tweeter On Tuesday, he compared the government’s language to that used “by Germany in the 1930s.”
It provoked reactions from both sides of the political spectrum. A lot exhorted him to stay out of politics and stick to football, while others defended it as the moral conscience of the people.
Conservative politicians criticized Lineker’s tweet, and his employer, the BBC, came under pressure from right-wing commentators to punish him.
The broadcaster — one of the the most reliable news sources and producer of some of the country’s most popular television entertainment – is publicly funded and maintains strict impartiality and social media guidelines for its staff who work in information, which prevents them from expressing opinions on controversial subjects.
After days of pressure, the BBC said On Friday, Lineker’s social media activity actually constituted “a violation” of its guidelines, and that Lineker “Take a step back from presenting Match of the Day until we have a clear and agreed position on its use of social media.”
The reaction was rapid.
Lineker’s fellow presenters and commentators said they would not appear on “Match of the Day” in “solidarity” with Lineker, and fans began urging players not to give post-interviews. match on the BBC.
The BBC was forced to announce that it would broadcast “Match of the Day” in a simple format, without studio presenters or pundits. The boycott also extended to other sports broadcasts on BBC television and radio, leading to the removal of several hours of footage at the last minute. the BBC reported.
On Twitter, the hashtags #ImWithGary and #BoycottBBC were both trending on Saturday as people vowed to boycott the show, and a petition The plan to reinstate Lineker has so far collected nearly 180,000 signatures.
Everyone knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I told the BBC I wouldn’t do it tomorrow. Solidarity.
– Ian Wright (@IanWright0) March 10, 2023
The British opposition Labor Party has called the BBC’s decision is “cowardly” and “an attack on freedom of expression”, while the National Union of Journalists described it as a “massive own goal”, adding that “yielding in this way to sustained political pressure is as senseless as it is dangerous”.
The BBC, which denies bowing to political pressure, did not respond to a request for comment from the Washington Post, but its director general apologized to license fee payers on Saturday. “Success for me is getting Gary back on the air and together we bring the public world-class sports coverage that, as I said, I’m sorry we weren’t able to deliver today,” said Tim Davie (via BBC). Davie added that he would “absolutely not” resign and said: “We are working very hard to resolve the situation.”
Davie also denied there was any “complacency” towards any political camp.
The general mood in the BBC newsroom on Friday evening was one of shock, according to a journalist who worked there, who agreed to speak candidly about his workplace on condition of anonymity.
The journalist joked that they would remove their BBC badge when they left the building for the day – a reference to Lineker’s popularity with much of the public and how controversial the row became at across Britain.
The use of social media by employees, their impartiality and the expression of their opinions regularly give rise to controversies and debates, particularly in The Washington Post.
However, many of Lineker’s supporters have also argued that the BBC’s impartiality guidelines are aimed at employees working in news, rather than pundits or sports presenters. The BBC has argued previously that, as one of the BBC’s most high-profile stars, Lineker was seen as having “an extra responsibility” to the BBC.
British press expert and former newspaper editor Alan Rusbridger told the Post on Saturday that the focus on Lineker and the BBC was likely a “boon” for the government, creating a distraction from the underlying issue of their position on immigration and asylum.
“Everyone is talking about Gary Lineker and not the policies they just announced,” he said.
He added that the BBC had a number of “enemies”, ranging from commercial competitors to political parties of all stripes, and was struggling to maintain strict rules of impartiality. “There is a culture war going on here. The BBC is involved in this because it has a huge output… in music, sport, politics and current affairs.
“There will be something that offends the culture warriors on one side or the other.”
It is absolutely insane that Britain has become a country where having an opinion can cost you your job. If we do not cherish and fiercely protect freedom of expression, even for views we personally despise, we are no better than totalitarian regimes like China and North Korea.
– Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 11, 2023
A former BBC director-general, Greg Dyke, on Saturday made a rare public statement against the corporation he headed, saying “the BBC has undermined its own credibility” with the Lineker debacle. “There is a long-standing precedent at the BBC that if you are an entertainment presenter or a sports presenter you are not bound by those same rules,” he said of the impartiality of the society. guidelines.
Lineker, who previously opened his home to at least two refugees, openly criticized the government on asylum issues and was reprimand by the BBC in the past. He has not yet publicly commented on his punishment, and his representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.
However, earlier in the week he tweeted his thanks to the supporters. “I want to thank each and every one of you. …I will continue to try to speak for those poor souls who have no voice.
Helier Cheung in London and Cindy Boren in Washington contributed to this report.
