'BBC blackout': Britain's media giant is under pressure on Sunday after outcry over Gary Lineker's suspension, with the case reigniting both debate over the band's impartiality and criticism over his direction.
No way out of the crisis seems in sight on Sunday, two days after the storm triggered by the announcement of the suspension of the former footballer and star presenter of the very popular show "Match Of The Day".
The BBC's sports programming will be turned upside down for the second day in a row after the defection of many consultants and commentators, "in solidarity" with Mr. Lineker. On Saturday, several football shows were canceled at the last minute, forcing the BBC to apologize to viewers.
Gary Lineker, 62, was sacked on Friday after criticizing the Conservative government's bill to prevent migrants arriving through the English Channel from seeking asylum in the UK, a plan denounced all the way to the UN .
"Blackout at BBC Sport", headlines the Sunday Express on Sunday when the case was still in the front pages of all the newspapers, in the context of a very tense debate on immigration and recurring criticism from the British right. on an alleged bias of the BBC.
On Sunday morning, UK Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt said he wanted "the BBC to maintain its reputation for independence and impartiality".
"When you interview me, people need to know that you're doing it on behalf of the public, not for political reasons," he said.
The BBC is regularly attacked by conservatives who accuse it of having covered Brexit in a biased way and of being interested in urban elites more than the working classes. The government froze the license fee for two years last year.
The opposition, for its part, criticizes the BBC for having bowed to the pressure of power by suspending Mr. Lineker. Critics are also mounting against the appointment in 2021, on the advice of the government, of Richard Sharp to the presidency of the BBC.
This former banker, known financial supporter of the Conservative party, would have played the matchmaker shortly before taking office to help his friend and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson obtain a loan of 800,000 pounds (900,000 euros).
"I think BBC chairman Richard Sharp should resign," said Lib-Dem leader Ed Davey. "The Conservative government has been undermining the BBC for several years, including through its appointments."
Under pressure, the group's general manager, Tim Davie, "absolutely" refused to resign. He said he wanted to "settle the situation calmly" and "get Gary back on the air".
Gary Lineker "loves Match Of The Day but he will never go back on his words," the footballer's son, George Lineker, told the Sunday Mirror.
On Twitter, where he has 8.8 million subscribers, Gary Lineker had denounced "a cruel policy aimed at the most vulnerable, in a language that is reminiscent of that used by Germany in the years 1930".
The government text, which according to the government aims to put an end to the illegal arrival of migrants through the Channel, was denounced by the UN, which accused London of wanting to "end the right of asylum".
Gary Lineker, nicknamed "Mr Nice" for his impeccable behavior throughout his career - he has never received a single yellow card - is used to expressing his progressive political positions, in particular for the reception refugees.
The former 48-goal striker for England did not react publicly to his suspension but repeated this week that he fully assumed his words. On Saturday, he traveled to Leicester, his hometown where he started his professional career, for the Foxes' game against Chelsea in the Premier League.
In the meantime, audiences exploded on Saturday for the unmissable "Match Of The Day", which was broadcast in a reduced format, without a presenter or consultants. More than 2.5 million viewers watched, almost 500,000 more than the previous week according to the BBC.
03/12/2023 13:24:01 - London (AFP) - © 2023 AFP
