Football Focus and Final Score axed as BBC 5 Live commentators also stand down
Neither Football Focus or Final Score will air on on the BBC this Saturday after host Alex Scott and a raft of other pundits refused to work following the broadcaster's decision to axe Gary Lineker.
It was announced on Friday that Lineker, 62, would be "stepping back" from his role as host of Match of the Day after comments he made on social media criticising the government's new Migration Bill earlier this week.
But the decision - which was not reached amicably with Lineker - has sparked a major backlash, with several of the presenter's Match of the Day colleagues opting to boycott this weekend's broadcast.
Regular pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer both announced they would not feature on Saturday night's broadcast in a show of solidarity to Lineker.
And now, Scott, who ruled herself out of the running to replace Lineker as a host on social media on Friday evening, has now pulled out of her regular hosting job on Football Focus. The show, which normally airs on a Saturday lunchtime, will now not air this weekend alongside Final Score, the BBC's comprehensive live goals coverage. There have also been reports that BBC Radio Five Live has been affected with Mark Chapman set to abstain from his usual role. Dion Dublin has also tweeted to confirm that he will not be contributing to the station on Saturday.
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Pulling Football Focus caps a chastening 24 hours for the BBC, who have had to draw up contingency plans after their decision to remove Lineker.
After a host of regular pundits ruled out appearing on this week's Match of the Day, the broadcaster announced that Saturday's show would proceed without a host or studio guests and would just feature match highlights.
Saturday's edition of Football Focus has been cancelled after Alex Scott pulled out of her hosting duties (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)It was also confirmed on Saturday morning that nobody from the Premier League would be asked to conduct post-match interviews for Match of the Day following reports that players were in discussions with The Professional Footballer's Association over a potential boycott.
A spokesperson for The PFA said on Saturday: “We have been informed that players involved in today’s games will not be asked to participate in interviews with Match of the Day.
“The PFA have been speaking to members who wanted to take a collective position and to be able to show their support for those who have chosen not to be part of tonight’s programme.
“During those conversations we made clear that, as their union, we would support all members who might face consequences for choosing not to complete their broadcast commitments. This is a common sense decision that ensures players won’t now be put in that position.”
The Mirror has launched a petition to have Gary Lineker reinstated at the BBC and as the host of Match of the Day. Sign it here.
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