Jeff Stelling jokes he needs to watch out now with Lineker free after BBC axing
Jeff Stelling has joked he needs to be on his toes now with Gary Lineker a free agent after being axed by the BBC.
Lineker was taken off air by the BBC on Friday after the Match of the Day host faced backlash for comparing Home Secretary Suella Braverman's new illegal immigration policy to those of Nazi Germany.
Pundits, commentators, players and managers have since boycotted Match of the Day in a mark of solidarity with Lineker, wreaking havoc on the BBC's schedule. Stelling jokingly gave his thoughts on the matter as he opened this weekend's edition of Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports.
READ MORE: Ian Wright says he will quit Match of the Day permanently if BBC bin Gary Lineker
Speaking at the start of the show, the beloved presenter joked: "I need to be at the top of my game today as there is a top notch football presenter available on Saturdays now."
It is not yet known whether Lineker will return to Match of the Day in the future, although the BBC's former controller of editorial policy, Richard Ayre, thinks he has presented the show for the last time.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Saturday, Ayre described the position as "irreconcilable" before admitting: "It may already have been the last time we’ve seen Gary presenting Match Of The Day, unfortunately."
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Following the news that Lineker had been taken off air, a host of pundits announced on social media that they would not appear on the show due to the announcement, including regulars Ian Wright and Alan Shearer.
Alex Scott and Kelly Somers later confirmed they would not appear on Football Focus on Saturday, prompting the BBC to cancel the show. This weekend's edition of Final Score has also been cancelled due to the continued fallout.
Saturday's Match of the Day is set to look completely different as a result, with the show to go ahead without a presenter or pundits. The BBC's usual line-up of commentators are also boycotting the weekend's action in a sign of solidarity.
Premier League players will also refuse to speak to the BBC both before and after matches, with the league also stating they will refuse interview requests for managers at the six top flight matches on Saturday.
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