LONDON
Gary Lineker will return to the BBC after conflicts with his employer over his tweets criticizing the UK’s recently finalized immigration law, media CEO Tim Davie announced on Monday, 13 March.
Davie said in a statement that the BBC would begin an independent review of its social media guidelines and would focus on how they apply to freelancers working outside of the news, such as Lineker who presents Match of the Day.
See also: BBC calls attention of presenters to compare country’s immigration policy with Nazi Germany
The director general acknowledged that the current guidelines contain “gray areas” but that Lineker will “adhere to the editorial guidelines” until the BBC’s review of social media policy is complete.
Meanwhile, the presenter and former England striker, who has worked at the BBC for nearly three decades, said he was pleased the issue had been resolved.
“After an incredible few days I’m glad we’ve gotten through this. I want to thank you all for the great support, especially my colleagues at BBC Sport, for the great show of solidarity. Football is a team game, but your support It was amazing,” Lineker said.
“We remain a tolerant, friendly and generous nation,” he added.
Last Tuesday, the former footballer criticized on Twitter as “absolutely appalling” a new immigration bill that would allow for the arrest and rapid transfer of anyone who enters British territory illegally.
Lineker dismissed Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s claims that there was an influx of migrants into Britain, noting that the country was accepting far fewer refugees than other major European nations.
“This is simply a very cruel policy targeting the most vulnerable people in a language not dissimilar to that spoken by Germany in the 1930s, and am I wrong?” he said.
The BBC suspended him from his show on Friday because of the criticism he received. However, many also cheered him on, including co-hosts Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, who boycotted the show and announced they would not be performing in solidarity with the former footballer.
*Aicha Sandoval Alaguna contributed to writing this note.
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