End of a -television- era? THE Gary Lineker will not present Match of the Day this weekend after the BBC ruled his controversial tweet, which compared the Sunak government’s immigration plans to Nazi Germany, breached impartiality rules.

The British network said Lineker would “step down” from presenting the program until he and its boss come to an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media.

The former football ace, and the BBC’s highest paid star caused an uproar and sparked political controversy this week, as he compared the rhetoric used for a new policy to limit migration across the Channel to the policies of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

Lineker’s comments were criticized by Downing Street and a number of senior Tory figures, including home secretary Suella Braverman and James Cleverley, the foreign secretary.

A BBC spokesperson commented: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team over the past few days. We have said that we believe his recent social media activity is a violation of our guidelines. The BBC has decided that it will withdraw from presenting Match Of The Day until we have an agreed and clear position on the use of social media.”

“When it comes to our premier football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none.” “We never said that Gary should be an ‘opinion-free zone’ or that he couldn’t have an opinion on issues he cares about, but we did say that he should stay far away from taking sides on partisan or political issues or political controversies ».

But the Labor leader, Sir Keir Starmer, speaking on a visit to Glasgow, he defended Lineker’s right to make his political views known. “I wouldn’t personally say what Gary Lineker said, but I would defend his right to say it”the Labor leader said among other things.