Jeremy Clarkson has voiced his support for Gary Lineker and Ian Wright after a host of presenters and reporters boycotted their scheduled appearances on BBC football shows in a display of solidarity.
The BBC released a statement on Friday saying former Spurs, Barcelona and Leicester City forward Lineker would be stepping back from the show until there was 'an agreed and clear position on his use of social media'.
It added: "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.
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“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.”
Following the news, many boycotted their scheduled appearances on BBC football shows this weekend in a display of solidarity with Lineker, including regular MOTD duo Ian Wright and Alan Shearer.
Alex Scott announced she would not present Football Focus, while Kelly Somers, Jason Mohammad, Dion Dublin, Leon Osman, Colin Murray and Jermain Defoe also withdrew from their commitments.
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Former BBC presenter Jeremy Clarkson has also voiced his support for Lineker, Wright and Shearer on social media.
Clarkson responded to Ian Wright's tweet saying he wouldn't be going on Match of the Day without Lineker by writing "good on you mate".
He also replied to a Twitter user who asked: "Wonder how many people here tweeting support for @GaryLineker also called for @JeremyClarkson to be fired from from ITV and Amazon?"
The 62-year-old said: "I supported me and I support Gary also."
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The tweet from the former Top Gear presenter comes after Piers Morgan compared Lineker and Clarkson while speaking about the much-talked about situation on his TalkTV show Piers Morgan Uncensored,
Morgan said: "One is a woke warrior, the other is a culture warrior who mainly talks about cars. One of them invites me to dinner while the other punches me in the face.
"Clarkson and Lineker could hardly be more different but what unites them is they have both been victims of witch-hunts over recent months."
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He added: "Many of the anti-Clarkson lot are the very same people who are now defending Lineker, in this side of two halves, both sides are wrong."
Thoughts on Clarkson's response?
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Topics: Gary Lineker, Match Of The Day
Jack Kenmare