Alex Scott' 'pulls OUT of presenting Football Focus'

Alex Scott PULLS OUT of presenting Football Focus today following BBC’s axing of Gary Lineker from Match of the Day – and the programme is now in doubt after Kelly Somers also withdrew

  • Scott, who has presented the show since 2021, will not appear today
  • The presenter joins wealth of talent standing in solidarity with Lineker
  • Lineker was asked to stand down following controversial ‘Nazi’ tweet 

Alex Scott, host of BBC’s Football Focus, will not present the popular sports show today in support of broadcasting colleague Gary Lineker. 

The former England international, who has hosted the show since May 2021, told the broadcaster last night that she would be suspending hosting duties in a show of solidarity with Lineker following the BBC’s decision to ask the long-running Match of the Day host to ‘step back’ in the wake of his controversial tweet. 

Scott’s role was said to being handed over to Kelly Somers, a presenter and commentator for the broadcaster, in the interim.

But Somers later denied that via Twitter, saying: ‘Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today’. 

Sportsmail now believes the programme will not go ahead as scheduled today.  

Alex Scott is a recognisable face on the BBC’s sports coverage and her absence creates another issue for the broadcaster to solve

Match of the Day has been thrown into chaos in the wake of Lineker’s suspension of duties

READ MORE: What did Gary Lineker say? Match of the Day presenter’s ‘Nazi’ asylum seeker policy tweet that sparked row with BBC

 

This presenter shake-up is the latest in a string of walk-outs since the BBC’s much-debated call to suspend Lineker. 

His MOTD colleagues Ian Wright and Alan Shearer were among the first to confirm they would not be appearing on this evening’s broadcast, and they have since been supported by a number of matchday commentators. 

The BBC announced their plan to host the show without pundits in the wake of this news late last night.

Scott was floated as one of the potential names to take over Lineker’s hosting duties in his absence, but responded succinctly on Twitter as rumours swirled. 

The Arsenal legend posted ‘FYI…’ and a simple gif of US senator Bernie Saunders, captioned ‘Nah! Not me’. 

The presenter hinted a speculation that she would take over MOTD with a straightforward no

The broadcaster has been thrown into turmoil and must contend not only with decisions over its impartiality position, but a growing void of presenting slots to fill. 

But the BBC’s issue may extend beyond their own employees, with Jurgen Klopp leading a managers and players boycott of the broadcaster this weekend. 

The Premier League has now let those from the 12 clubs playing on Saturday that MOTD will not request post-match interviews with managers or players. 

Sportsmail believes this absence only extends to television coverage, and that usual access will be provided to BBC 5 Live. 

Will Lineker return to MOTD in the future?

Yes – 4/6 

No – 11/10

*Odds provided by Paddy Power 

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