News
Match of the Day to go ahead without pundits as they boycott in solidarity with Gary Lineker
Lineker took aim at the government's new asylum policy and his peers are making it clear they do not condone him being punished for it.
In a controversial and watershed moment for the BBC, Match of the Day is set to go ahead without any presenters for the first time ever as pundits boycott the show in solidarity with Gary Lineker.
Gary Lineker was asked to take a step back from presenting the historic and hugely popular football analysis show after the BBC had a ‘frank’ discussion with him following a number of his tweets which criticised the Home Office’s new asylum plans on social media.
Having been part of the programme for more than 30 years either as a pundit or as lead anchor, a position which he has held since 1999, Lineker‘s suspension from the show has upset and troubled many, including the majority of his regular colleagues.
Reacting to the news that their friend and peer would not be presenting Saturday’s show, former footballer and regular co-host Ian Wright was the first to inform the BBC that he wouldn’t be appearing as a pundit either.
And he was by no means the last, as not long after, fellow Match of the Day veteran, not to mention part of the usual and iconic Saturday night trio, Alan Shearer also informed the corporation and his followers on social media that he would not be appearing either.
Moreover, another MotD regular, Jermaine Jenas, reinforced the message of solidarity on Twitter: “Been on air with The One Show. I wasn’t down to be doing Match of the Day tomorrow, but if I was I would of said no and stood with my fellow pundits and Gary Lineker”.
The same goes for former Manchester City star turned pundit, Micah Richards, who insisted that were he scheduled to appear, he would have made the same decision to boycott.
This comes after Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she was “disappointed” by Lineker’s remarks after he stated that the government’s targeting of migrants and refugees is “immeasurably cruel” and that their continued choice of language was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.
As a result, BBC stressed their impartiality guidelines and while several took issue with Lineker sharing his political opinions on his Twitter profile, it seems plenty more have come out to defend him for speaking out against the Conservative government and say that his punishment is cause for concern.
With most of the regular punditry team having come out to assure that they would not be presenting after Lineker was stripped as host, the question then turned to who else could appear, and many quickly jumped to BBC’s Football Focus host, Alex Scott. She quickly put a stop to that talk.
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Scott is now said to have pulled out of her Football Focus duties as well, with the bulk of the BBC’s sports personnel all making the message very clear: they stand with Gary Lineker.
The 62-year-old had already issued a statement saying he had “never known such love and support in [his] life” following the initial wave of people showing their solidarity with the ex-England international.
However, after learning that Wright, Shearer, Jenas; Scott and Richards had all bowed out of appearing too, Lineker is said to have been left ‘in tears’ as he broke down in overwhelming emotion following the unified response from media personnel and fans alike.
As for the BBC, they have said MotD will go ahead without presenters for the first time since 1964 and focus simply on video highlights of the action from this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures. Meanwhile, viewing figures are expected to plummet as the BBC and the government face revolt for trying to censor opposition, free speech and any form of criticism — even if the information is accurate.
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Featured Image — BBC
News
Referees admit Manchester City’s derby-winning goal over Manchester United was a VAR ‘error’
Emily Sergeant
Referees have admitted that Manchester City’s winning goal during yesterday’s Manchester derby was a VAR ‘error’.
In case you didn’t tune into the Manchester derby yesterday – which was held at Manchester United’s home ground, Old Trafford – star striker Erling Haaland’s goal handed Manchester City a 1-0 victory – in the end, even after fellow City player Phil Foden was given a straight red card and sent off in the twenty third minute.
Haaland‘s goal was initially deemed offside on the pitch, before VAR overruled the decision.
New City signing Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position as he attempted to play the ball before Haaland scored.
Fernandez appeared to impact the defending of Manchester United‘s Lisandro Martinez by attempting a diving header, despite not touching the ball.
Following the full-time whistle, United’s manager Michael Carrick said it was ‘worrying’ that the goal was allowed to stand, claiming that there was no ‘grey area’ when it came to determining whether Fernandez had interfered with play.
“It’s worrying if that’s how the game is seen by those who are officiating it,” he commented.
Pundit and former Manchester United star, Gary Neville, also expressed confusion at the decision, declaring on Sky Sports after the game: “I’m going to need the offside law explaining to me, because that has lost me, I have to say. I do think when they look back on this, they will recognise they got it wrong.”
Neville said he thinks that referee Michael Oliver will be ‘nervous’ about the goal yesterday, as will the rest of the officials.
And now, less than 24 hours after the match ended, refereeing body Pro Ref has since made what Sky Sports is calling an ‘unusual intervention by confirming that a review of the goal will take place.
A spokesperson for Pro Ref said in a statement: “It was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.
“Contact has been made with Manchester United to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement.
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“A review of the incident will take place.”
Featured Image – Jaleel Akbash (via Unsplash)
News
Charli XCX announces massive Manchester arena gig as part of long-awaited UK and European tour
Emily Sergeant
Charli XCX has finally given UK fans the news they’ve been waiting for.
After the genre-bending popstar announced back in June a series of US gigs this autumn to support and celebrate the release of her eighth studio album Music, Fashion, Film – which was met with critical acclaim following its release in late July – fans in her home country were wondering when she would announce UK dates to accompany these.
The 34-year-old been had hinting at a UK and European leg of the Music, Fashion, Film Tour on social media over the past couple of months, but nothing was set in stone as of yet.
Then last night, Charli took to Twitter to announce that she ‘finally’ had some information coming today (11 September), and then followed it up with a teaser video – sending fans into a frenzy.
And now, it has been announced this morning that Charli XCX will be taking to the Co-op Live stage early next year.
Support on the UK and European leg of the Music, Fashion, Film Tour will come from US popstar Audrey Hobert.
Hobert has been having somewhat of a star-making year herself in 2026 following the release of her own critically acclaimed debut album, Who’s The Clown?, last year – with her streams racking up daily and drawing in massive crowds on the festival circuit this summer.
Charli XCX – Music, Fashion, Film Tour UK & EU Dates 2027
- 13 February – 3Arena, Dublin
- 15 February – OVO Hydro, Glasgow
- 17 February – Co-op Live, Manchester
- 19 February – The O2, London
- 22 February – Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam
- 24 February – Accor Arena, Paris
Upon release back in July, Music, Fashion, Film the album received acclaim from music critics, who praised its lyrical honesty and experimental production, as Charli took a sonic journey away from the undeniable mega hit that was her 2024 album BRAT, and into ‘Rock Music’ territory.
Music, Fashion, Film topped the charts in the UK and Australia, as well as in Belgium, Hungary, and New Zealand, while reaching the top 10 in countless other countries – including the US.
Charli XCX will be bringing the Music, Fashion, Film Tour to Manchester‘s Co-op Live on Wednesday 17 February 2027, and tickets will go on sale next week.
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Presales, including Co-op Member Presale, begin on Wednesday 16 September at 9am, before general sale starts on Friday 18 September, again at 9am.
Get tickets when they go live here.
Featured Image – Henry Redcliffe (Publicity Picture)
Danny Jones -
11th March 2023 
