Gary Lineker reinstated as Match of the Day host after BBC tweet row

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A raft of BBC Sport presenters, pundits and commentators stepped back from their duties working for the broadcaster this weekend in solidarity with Lineker, including the Match of the Day analysts Ian Wright and Alan Shearer and the Radio 5 Live and Match of the Day 2 presenter Mark Chapman, forcing the BBC to air stripped-down highlights packages without the usual studio presentation. Lineker refused the BBC’s request to effectively take back and apologise for his tweet, while the broadcaster’s director general, Tim Davie, also dug in, saying he would “absolutely not” be resigning over the chaos. I want to get matters resolved and our sport content back on air.” Davie announced that the BBC would be formally reviewing its social media guidance, led by an “independent expert”, in order to clarify the rules in particular for its freelancers working outside news and current affairs, of which Lineker is one. Alan Shearer, left, boycotted this week’s Match of the Day in solidarity with Gary Lineker “I am glad that we have found a way forward,” Lineker said.