90min

MOTD: Full list of presenters, pundits and commentators who have pulled out

By Grey Whitebloom

Alex Scott has been one of several figures to pull out of BBC football programmes in the wake of the Gary Lineker controversy
Alex Scott has been one of several figures to pull out of BBC football programmes in the wake of the Gary Lineker controversy / Naomi Baker/GettyImages
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On Thursday afternoon, Gary Lineker still believed that he would be reclining in Match of the Day's spinning chair to present highlights of Premier League action while making some laboured yet endearing puns.

However, by Friday, it was revealed that Lineker would "step back" from hosting duties after posting a series of controversial tweets criticising the "beyond awful" refugee policy announced by Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

While Lineker was forcibly removed from the BBC's screens, a glut of his fellow colleagues showed their solidarity for Lineker by pulling out of programmes from across the corporation's footballing schedule.

Here is a list of every presenter, pundit and commentator that stepped back in support of a peer that was pushed aside.

Presenters

Alex Scott - Shortly after it was revealed that Lineker would not host Match of the Day on Friday, Scott posted a GIF of US politician Bernie Sanders saying: "Nah! Not me." The following morning, the former England international revealed she would not present the BBC's Football Focus which was scheduled to air at 12pm on Saturday. Bargain Hunt appeared in its place.

Kelly Somers - Before Scott had even confirmed she would not host Football Focus, Somers quashed any rumours of her standing in for anybody when she tweeted: "Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today."

Mark Chapman - Without releasing a statement, Chapman pulled out of hosting BBC Radio 5Live's sports coverage and is not expected to appear on Match of the Day 2 as the show undergoes the same refinement as Saturday's broadcast.

Jason Mohammed - Six hours before the BBC's roundup show was set to air, the Final Score host confirmed that he would not be presenting the programme which was ultimately replaced by The Repair Shop.

Colin Murray - The former Match of the Day 2 host confirmed that the BBC Radio show Fighting Talk he anchors would not air "for obvious reasons" on Saturday, revealing that "this was a decision taken by the entire FT team and myself".

Rob Phillips - The BBC Radio Wales programme Call Rob Phillips was replaced by a gala concert recording after the host reportedly bowed out.

Pundits

Ian Wright - As with so many off-field issues, Wright was one of the first to react and set the precedent, pulling out of his punditry role on Match of the Day on Friday afternoon.

Alan Shearer - One hour and 11 minutes after Wright announced he was stepping back, Shearer replicated the stand taken by his fellow former England international.

Micah Richards - On the same Friday night, Richards quickly distanced himself from filling either punditry slot on Match of the Day before he had been asked.

Jermaine Jenas - Widely touted as Lineker's long-term replacement as Match of the Day's host, Jenas revealed that he would not be taking anyone's chair this weekend as soon as he wrapped up presenting BBC's One Show on Friday.

Glenn Murray - After "reflecting last night", the former Brighton and Crystal Palace striker decided to "step away" from his scheduled appearances on Football Focus and Final Score on Saturday morning.

Anita Asante - The former England international and current Bristol City first-team coach also bowed out of appearing on Football Focus.

Dion Dublin - The BBC's television broadcasts weren't the only form of media impacted as Dublin opted to not participate in BBC Radio 5Live's coverage on Saturday - although the BBC's senior football reporter Ian Dennis did commentate, which earned him a raft of unwarranted abuse.

Jermain Defoe - Following in the footsteps of Wright and Shearer, Defoe preemptively confirmed that he would not appear as a pundit on Match of the Day's Sunday offering, Match of the Day 2.

Commentators

On Friday evening, Steve Wilson revealed that the commentary team scheduled to cover the Premier League matches set to be shown on Saturday's Match of the Day "have decided to step down from tomorrow night’s broadcast".

Simon Brotherton, Conor McNamara and Steven Wyeth tweeted the same statement. Robyn Cowen does not have a public Twitter account but was reportedly in favour of the decision.

Pien Meulensteen, Guy Mowbray, Steve Bower and Mark Scott all released the same statement on Sunday which read: "As yesterday, there will be no ‘normal’ MOTD(2) programme tonight. The scheduled commentary team are in full agreement with our BBC Sport colleagues. We hope that a resolution can be found ASAP."

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