Lineker to return presenting sports program after dispute with BBC resolved

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Gary Lineker will return to presenting the Match of the Day program after nearly a week-long conflict over his tweets with the BBC has been resolved.

In a statement, BBC Director-General Tim Davie on Monday said that the BBC will begin an independent review of its social media guidelines, focusing on how it applies to freelancers outside news like Lineker.

Davie acknowledged that the current guidance contains "grey areas," but Lineker "will abide by the editorial guidelines" until a review of the BBC's social media policy is complete, according to the BBC.

Meanwhile, Lineker, a former England striker who presented sports on the BBC for almost three decades, said that he is delighted that the issue has been resolved.

"After a surreal few days, I'm delighted that we have navigated a way through this. I want to thank you all for the incredible support, particularly my colleagues at BBC Sport, for the remarkable show of solidarity. Football is a team game, but their backing was overwhelming."

"We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people," added Lineker.

On Tuesday, in response to a video message by Interior Minister Suella Braverman about stopping migrant boats, he tweeted: "Good heavens, this is beyond awful."

Lineker dismissed Braverman's claim that there was an influx of migrants to the UK, noting that the country takes far fewer refugees than other major European countries.

"This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in a language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s," he wrote on Twitter.

On Friday, he was suspended from presenting the program by the BBC, which sparked a wide range of criticism. However, many also extended support, including his co-hosts, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, who boycotted the program and announced that they would not appear in solidarity with the former football player.