Gary Lineker 'steps back' from Match of the Day after asylum seeker tweets

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Gary Lineker is stepping back from his role as a presenter on Match of the Day until an "agreement" is reached with BBC bosses over his social media use.A statement issued by the broadcaster on Friday afternoon said that the ex-footballer, 62, had breached impartiality guidelines with recent tweets that criticised the UK Government's new policy on asylum seekers.

It is unclear how long the one-time forward will be absent from the programme.Lineker was criticised by UK ministers after he likened the language used by the government over its Illegal Migration Bill to that "used by Germany in the 30s".

However, he has repeatedly insisted that he will stand by his words.The tweet, posted on March 7, was a riposte to the Tories' proposed new law, which will see anyone who travels to the UK "illegally" prevented from claiming aslyum.It read: "There is no huge influx.

We take far fewer refugees than other European countries. This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s."A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days.