Match Of The Day cut to 20 minutes in bizarre show with no THEME TUNE or commentary as BBC reports on Lineker crisis
MATCH Of The Day ran just 20 minutes last night as the carnage-devoured BBC limped to get the show on the air.
The flagship footie program didn’t even play its iconic show-opening theme tune, and an announcer apologized for the trimmed-down offering.
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Viewers were left speechless as highlights from Saturday’s games were shown with crowd noise but no commentary.
And there were no presenters or pundits in the studio after the staff left the studio in a growing mutiny following Gary Lineker’s suspension.
It came as co-hosts Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman and Micah Richards refused to step in, sending the football analysis show into crisis.
Match Of The Day – which normally lasts 80 minutes – started at the usual time of 10:20 p.m. but only showed the highlights of the Prem game.
At the start of the show, an announcer said: “We’re sorry we can’t show our regular match of the day including commentary tonight.
“But here’s the best action from today’s Premier League games now.”
The show ended with a jingle as the Premier League table was shown before ending abruptly.
Footy fans quickly took to Twitter after tuning in to give their reaction to the “surreal” show.
One fan wrote, “Even the match of the day intro protests!”
Another asked: “Why am I sitting there commentating on the match of the day myself?”
“Match of the day without comment – what a farce,” explained another.
A fellow viewer wrote, “Surreal watches a silent game of the day.”
While another said: “Match Of The Day on BBC One with no commentary is… different.”
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BBC One then showed Tom Hank’s drama Sully about the Hudson River plane landing.
Earlier, a Beeb insider told The Sun on Sunday that last night’s show would be “the biggest own goal in BBC history”.
They added: “Match of the Day is a British institution so everyone at the BBC from top to bottom was adamant the show had to go on.
“But the sad apology of a program being canceled probably did more damage than being canceled for the weekend while things were being worked out.”
Mr Lineker was removed from the program — which he has moderated since 1999 — on Friday, after comparing the government’s illegal migration law to “1930s Germany.”
The Sun on Sunday understands BBC boss Tim Davie is locked in a standoff with Mr Lineker, who refuses to back down in a row over his controversial tweets.
Crisis-stricken Davie told the BBC on Saturday there was “no way” he would be quitting amid a fallout that has brought the company to its knees.
Football Focus, Final Score, the Fighting Talk podcast and 5Live’s 606 football phone were all frozen as the staff riot brought schedules tumbling down.
Biggest own goal in BBC history
BBC insider on the game of the day
It’s unclear if Match Of The Day 2 – which will air on Sunday – will take place.
Mr Davie described the looming disaster as a “difficult day” and apologized for the disruption to BBC sports programming.
Asked if he’s sorry for the way he’s handled the excitement, he told the BBC on Saturday: “We’ve made decisions and I’ve made decisions that are based on a real passion for what the BBC is and what it is is difficult.”
He insisted the series was about impartiality.
With his employer battling fires on all fronts, Mr Lineker took some time off today to watch his beloved Leicester City in action against Chelsea at the King Power Stadium.
The ex-England star was seen watching the Foxes alongside one of his sons – and appeared beaming despite his side’s 3-1 defeat.
The row was sparked when Mr Lineker reacted to a Twitter video of Home Secretary Suella Braverman presenting the government’s small boat plan.
The legislation provides that migrants are quickly arrested and deported within 28 days either to their country of origin or to a safe third country.
Sharing the clip, Mr Lineker said: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”
Responding to another user who described him as “out of order,” he added: “We take in far fewer refugees than other major European countries.
“This is just immeasurably cruel policy aimed at the most vulnerable, in language not dissimilar to the language used in Germany in the ’30s, and I’m out of order?”
In a statement following Mr Lineker’s suspension, the BBC explained that they had “detailed discussions” with the 62-year-old ex-England star following the uproar.
While the Beeb praised his sports coverage as “unmatched”, they said he should “stay away from taking sides on partisan issues”.
The crisis came to a head late on Saturday when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waded into the row and said the presenter’s suspension was a problem for the BBC, not him.
Mr Sunak said the chaos was “rightfully a matter” for the BBC, not the government.
He added that while he respects government policy that “not everyone always agrees”, he praised Mr Lineker for being a “great footballer and talented presenter”.
It came as an advert by talkSport’s Alan Brazil appeared outside the BBC’s crisis-hit headquarters on Saturday.
The rival broadcaster told the BBC with a wink: “Here comes the super sub. Alan Brazil is ready to step in.”
https://www.thesun.ie/sport/football/10368074/match-of-the-day-gary-lineker/ Match Of The Day cut to 20 minutes in bizarre show with no THEME TUNE or commentary as BBC reports on Lineker crisis