Gary Lineker: More BBC sport shows cancelled by presenter boycott

BBC sport coverage is being disrupted for a second day as a walkout over Gary Lineker's suspension continues.

Presenters and commentators have pulled out in support of the Match of the Day host, who was taken off air for criticising government asylum plans.

TV and radio coverage have been hit throughout Sunday as the stand off between the host and the BBC continues.

Director General Tim Davie has apologised to licence fee payers for the disruption.

It follows an unprecedented day of turmoil for the BBC's sports operation on Saturday, with staff including some of the most recognisable faces and voices associated with the broadcaster walking out.

BBC Two's Sunday afternoon coverage of the Women's Super League went ahead without studio analysis and had to rely on world feed commentary, whilst Radio 5 Live was forced to plug gaps in the schedule with pre-recorded programmes for a second day in a row.

Match of the Day 2 will follow the main programme's much-reduced format without the usual commentators and host Mark Chapman.

On Saturday, Match of the Day was cut to a 20-minute highlight reel with no punditry, commentary or opening theme, though viewing figures were up by almost half a million to 2.58m.

The BBC has not commented further on behind-the-scenes efforts to resolve the situation with Lineker and other members of staff.

The presenter's suspension over his criticism of the government's asylum policy has triggered a wider debate about BBC impartiality, the government's asylum policy and the position of the broadcaster's chairman Richard Sharp.

Mark Thompson - who served as BBC director general between 2004 and 2012 - said enforcing impartiality rules for non-news staff was complex, noting that "the BBC has walked into is the 21st Century".

Appearing on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the ex-New York Times CEO said "new behaviours, new public attitudes" mean "there is a need to think carefully about where to strike the balance".

Mr Thompson said he believed Lineker had committed a "technical breach" of BBC impartiality rules but that there is a "grey area" around sports presenters.

On the same show, Peter Salmon, who was previously the corporation's head of sport, said the BBC's impartiality guidelines were "opaque" and urged bosses to "get this sorted out".

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt - who earlier said he "profoundly" disagreed with Lineker's tweet - told the programme that he thought "making sure the BBC maintains its reputation for independence and impartiality is the outcome that matters most".

But he declined to say whether he thought Lineker should remain as Match of the Day presenter.

Director general Tim Davie told BBC News on Saturday he was in "listening mode" about how to reform impartiality rules for staff outside of the news operation after a "difficult day".

He left the door open for Lineker to return, describing him as the "best sports broadcaster in the world" and said he wanted to see him back on-air.

On Saturday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said resolving the row was a matter for the BBC, but Downing Street and several senior ministers have been sharply critical of the 62-year-old presenter in recent days.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer have both attacked the presenter this week for his comparison between the government's language and Nazi Germany.

Labour's Shadow Chancellor Rachael Reeves said the BBC had "clearly come under immense pressure from the Conservative Party to take Gary Lineker off air".

She contrasted Lineker's suspension with the BBC chairman being able to continue in his job while the circumstances of his appointment are investigated, adding: "I don't remember those same Tory MPs crying about impartiality when those revelations about Richard sharp came out."

An ongoing KC-led review into Richard Sharp's appointment as BBC chairman is investigating whether he failed to properly disclose details of his involvement in the facilitation of an £800,000 loan guarantee for the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He has denied any involvement in the arrangement of a loan for Mr Johnson.

The BBC is also conducting its own internal review over any potential conflicts of interest Mr Sharp may have in his current role as BBC chairman.

Meanwhile, uncertainty continues to swirl as to whether Lineker will return to the BBC.

Questioned by reporters on Sunday morning outside his home, Lineker replied only "I can't say anything at the moment" when asked if he would return to the BBC or if he had been approached by rival broadcasters.

But his son, George, told the Sunday Mirror that he thought his father would return to presenting Match of the Day.

The row erupted after Lineker called the so-called Stop The Boats Bill an "immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s".