Image: DARREN STAPLES (AFP)
The dispute over a tweet by Gary Lineker severely restricted the BBC’s football coverage on Saturday. BBC director general Tim Davie is keen to bring the ex-striker and pundit back quickly. “Gary is an excellent TV journalist. To me, success means that Gary is back on the air,” Davie said in an interview with the network.
However, he did not explain how the dispute should be resolved. Everyone wanted to calmly resolve the situation, Davie said simply. The BBC suspended Lineker on Friday for a tweet critical of the government. In a tweet on Tuesday, Lineker criticized the conservative British government’s asylum policy and compared its rhetoric in connection with refugees with Nazi rhetoric from the 1930s.
He had violated the neutrality guidelines of the broadcaster, it was said as a reason. Several of his colleagues, including pundits and ex-footballers Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, expressed solidarity with Lineker and refused to go on the air without him. The premier football show, Match of the Day, which Lineker has been the face of for more than 20 years, was broadcast without moderation, player interviews or expert opinions. In addition, several other radio and television programs had to be canceled after numerous BBC employees joined the boycott.
Davie apologized for the limited football coverage. However, he did not want to apologize for Lineker’s suspension. It’s about finding the right balance between freedom of the press and neutrality, said the BBC boss responsible for editorial content. The former conservative politician emphasized that it is not about political directions.
“Invasion” by refugees
The turmoil was ultimately triggered by Interior Minister Suella Braverman, who spoke of an “invasion” in connection with boat people on the English Channel. The British government wants to deny people who have entered Germany irregularly the right to seek asylum. On the other hand, there is severe criticism, including from the UN refugee agency UNHCR.
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I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
