Gary Lineker To Return To Hosting Match Of The Day As BBC Issue Apology

Gary Lineker will return to present Match of the Day after he was taken off air following his tweets about the new Conservative migrant policy allegedly broke BBC impartiality rules.

Tim Davie, the director general of the BBC, apologised on Monday for the widespread disruption to sports programming over the weekend, and announced an independent review of the corporation’s internal social media guidelines.

“I want to get matters resolved and our sport content back on air,” he said.

While not official it is believed that Lineker will also receive a personal and direct apology.

Lineker took to social media to release his own statement, writing: “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,”

“I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost 3 decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday,”

“A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you,”

“We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people. Thank you.”