Viewers react to the “silent” game of the day when an episode airs without experts

Match of the Day viewers have reacted to Saturday’s “silent” format as the episode aired without experts after Lineker’s suspension and notable boycotts, including from fellow cast members Ian Wright and Alan Shearer.

The Saturday episode of game of the day lasted only 20 minutes, with no moderator, experts, comments or interviews after the ongoing dispute between the BBC and Gary Lineker on his terms of contract.

The former England footballer was told to step down from hosting the show after he tweeted a comparison of the language used to introduce a new government asylum-seekers policy to 1930s Germany, with the other commentators and former England internationals Alan Shearer and Ian Wright announced their boycott of this weekend’s episode on Friday.

Before the show began, a continuity announcer said: “Onward now BBC Onewe are sorry that we cannot show our normality game of the day including comment tonight.

“But here’s some of the best action from today’s Premier League games now,” it continued, changing its opening credits for an apology amid an awkward silence.

Coverage then went straight to the highlights of Bournemouth’s win over Liverpool, with viewers taking to Twitter to comment on the new, changed format.

The comedic tweets didn’t go wrong, and fans poked fun at the situation, confirming that celebrities — all dating do it like Beckham‘s Keira Knightley to Lana Del Rey – would not present on Saturday’s show.

However, some viewers enjoyed the changed format. One user stressed that amid the backlash, the non-expert format served as a reminder that “all you need is the theme music.”

Meanwhile, Mr Lineker’s eldest son, George, has confirmed his father would be rejoining him game of the day but added that he “will not break his word”.

In conversation with The Sunday Mirror, George Lineker remarked: “Dad’s a good man, a good person, and I’m proud of him for being true to his word. That’s why he was pulled from the show – because he didn’t want to apologize. But he will always stand up for people who have no voice.

“He is passionate about supporting refugee organizations – he has taken in two refugees who he is still in contact with and trying to help. It means a lot to him to stand up for people whose only hope is to flee a country with only their clothes on their backs. That’s why he was so tight.

“Will he return game of the day? I think so – he loves game of the day. But he will never break his word.”

The daughter of a Jewish refugee who arrived in Britain from Hungary in the 1930s brought a letter to Gary Lineker’s home on Saturday. Susie Courtalt, 75, thanked him for his stance on immigration policy and applauded him for “standing up for all the people who don’t have an opinion”.

Elsewhere, BBC CEO Tim Davie called Gary Lineker the “best” sports broadcaster in the world and said people should “fight for” impartiality. BBC.

“To put it bluntly, we have the best sports channel in the world. We want to make sure he can get back on the air, we’re working together to make that happen and everyone wants to see a sensible solution to that,” he said BBC News.