The BBC is reportedly at war over Gary Lineker’s climbdown, with many employees worried that other celebrities will use the situation to score political points.

A CIVIL war has broken out at the BBC after executives apologized to Gary Lineker for the commotion caused by his incendiary tweets about migrants.
Lineker will be hosting this weekend’s FA Cup games, the network announced yesterday.
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Executive Director Tim Davie expressed regret for the “difficult period” and announced a review of social media guidelines would be initiated.
However, Lineker, 62, was met with a wave of anger over the crisis after he refused to apologize for his “offensive” remark about migrants, which the Home Secretary had called out as a major problem.
It has been reported that the BBC’s staff is divided over the decision to reinstate the veteran pundit, with some calling the network “spineless” for its stance.
Deputy Conservative Party chairman Lee Anderson told The Telegraph, “In football, no player is bigger than the club — but Lineker has shown he is bigger than the BBC.”
Some people are worried that this backpedaling will allow BBC hosts and reporters to start airing their political views on air and online.
While some high-ranking officials are said to think the presenter, who makes an estimated £1.36 million per year, has severely damaged the BBC’s standing.
“Gary Lineker is paid a seven figure sum annually from BBC licence payers to present football,” said Craig Mackinlay, MP for South Thanet.
Astonishingly, the BBC has apologized and given him free reign to post as he pleases on social media.
He can now, it would appear, freely advance his highly political, anti-government agenda, which has the potential to offend many. No other company has been so accommodating.
Lineker released a statement saying he is “glad we have found a way forward” and is in favor of the planned review.
After what he called a “surreal few days,” the commentator also ended his social media silence to elaborate on his previous statements.
“Impartiality is a cornerstone of the BBC,” the BBC Board said in response to the agreement, calling it the “right time” to review the corporation’s social media guidelines.
However, since Mr. Davie requested the inclusion of the “Lineker Clause” in 2020, this decision could prove to be an embarrassing own goal on his part.
There was an added obligation placed on more visible presenters to remain neutral on political issues, according to this provision.
In due time, an impartial expert will conduct a review with Lineker’s backing.
Mr. Davie confirmed that he would “abide by the editorial guidelines” until the report was finished.
However, Lineker’s co-stars see the decision as a victory because the “BBC blinked first,” as they put it.
According to Daily Mail, the dispute has also caused a “huge rift” in the department’s sports division, with some employees feeling betrayed by the outcome.
Angry employees reportedly confronted director of sport Barbara Slater about the way the saga was handled, as reported by the newspaper.
In the wake of the controversy, more and more prominent people are calling for the licence fee to be eliminated. This includes Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Philip Davies, a member of the opposition, has said, “This pathetic capitulation by the BBC is the beginning of the end for the licence fee.”
In contrast, Tory MP Marco Longhi told the Sun, “This looks like a BBC capitulation and that its Royal Charter and ethos around impartiality has been trashed.”
Lineker’s criticism of Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s small boats plan sparked the controversy.
Within 28 days of entry, migrants will be detained and returned to their home country or a safe third state, thanks to the new law.
When he posted the video online, Lineker exclaimed, “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”
Responding to another user who described him as “out of order”, he added: “We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.
I’m out of order for saying that this policy is unfathomably cruel because it targets the most defenseless members of society and uses language reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
Lineker was accused by the BBC of breaking their strict impartiality rules that state staff must “avoid taking sides on political controversies” and “take care when addressing public policy matters”.
According to the BBC, the commentator “breached our guidelines” with his remarks.
His remarks were deemed “offensive” by Ms. Braverman.
Further, she said, “To kind of throw out those kind of flippant analogies diminishes the unspeakable tragedy that millions of people went through…
Nothing that’s happening in the United Kingdom right now, in my opinion, even comes close to the Holocaust.
Inciting a revolt among his co-stars, the network announced on Friday that Lineker had been suspended and would not host Saturday’s Match of the Day.
The football analysis show was in a bind, but Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman, and Micah Richards refused to fill in.
The Saturday night episode was edited down to 20 minutes and aired without the show’s signature theme song.
As schedules were thrown into disarray, shows like Football Focus, Final Score, the Fighting Talk podcast, and 5Live’s 606 football phone in were all cancelled.
Mr. Davie, in announcing Lineker’s reinstatement yesterday, said, “Everyone recognizes this has been a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters, and, most importantly, our audiences. I’m sorry about that.
The BBC acknowledges that the ambiguity of its social media guidelines from 2020 could lead to confusion.
We need to get this sorted out and our sports programming back on the air.

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