Gary Lineker will present a live broadcast of the FA Cup quarter-finals between Manchester City and Burnley returning to TV screens on Saturday after the neutrality debate.
It will mark the 62-year-old broadcaster’s debut on TV. BBC Ever since he was told to withdraw from hosting the Match of the Day.
Lineker was taken down last week because of a tweet comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy to the 1930s. Germany.
On Saturday afternoon he will present a live BBC broadcast with analysis by Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, while Mark Chapman will host Match Of The Day’s highlight show later on Saturday night.
Many of Lineker’s BBC Sport colleagues walked out in “solidarity” last weekend, with the featured shows airing significantly shorter than usual and without presentation or commentary.
The Match of the Day aired for only 20 minutes last Saturday, not accompanied by commentary or analysis by the presenters, while Sunday’s edition followed a similar format and lasted only 15 minutes.
BBC managing director Tim Davie In a statement, he said the company had commissioned an independent review of social media guidelines specifically for freelancers.
Mr Davie apologized for what he acknowledged has been a “tough time for staff, contributors, presenters and most importantly our viewers” and described the BBC’s commitment to freedom of expression and impartiality as a “difficult balancing act”.
“We are aware of the potential confusion caused by gray areas in the social media guideline that the BBC implemented in 2020. I want issues resolved and our sports content back on the air.”
Following the release of the official BBC statement, Lineker tweeted that he was “delighted” to have made his way through the queue after “a few surreal days”.
“I have been presenting sports at the BBC for almost three decades and am extremely proud to be working with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I can’t wait to return to the MOTD chair on Saturday.”