Michael Johnson asks if he should fly to UK amid Gary Lineker BBC row

11 March 2023 , 13:50

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Michael Johnson weighed in on the Gary Lineker saga (Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)

American athletics legend Michael Johnson has taken to Twitter to ask if he needs to fly to the UK, following the saga surrounding Gary Lineker and the BBC.

Lineker has been embroiled in a row with the BBC after comparing the government's new asylum seeker policy to 1930's Germany. This has led to the former Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona man being stood down from his presenting duties of this weekend's Match of the Day show.

The broadcaster confirmed on Friday that Lineker will not present the weekly highlights show until an agreement has been reached on his use of social media.

In a statement they said: ""We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we've got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media."

Amid the decision the BBC has faced a whole host of backlash, including from former sprinter Johnson, who regularly acts as a pundit on the BBC's athletics coverage. Taking to Twitter after hearing the news on Lineker, Johnson wrote: "What the hell is happening? Do I need to get on a plane and come over there? WTF?!"

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It has been 24 hours of chaos for the BBC following their decision. As a result, Match of the Day pundits Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and Alex Scott all stood in solidarity alongside the presenter, having all pulled out of Saturday evening's show. It has also led to the cancellation of both Football Focus and Final Score.

Wright led the exodus, having tweeted: "Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity." And this was soon followed from the likes of Shearer and Scott, who posted similar tweets.

Gary Lineker has been stood down by the BBC from presenting Match of the Day this weekend (2023 Getty Images)

The former Arsenal striker has also promised to leave Match of the Day for good if his colleague and good friend is sacked from his role. On the latest episode of the Wrighty's House podcast. He said, "Let me tell you something if the BBC do get rid of Gary Lineker I am out. I am gone, I am not staying there.

"On his own platform, he should be able to say what he wants to say. Gary Lineker, he says stuff on everything and it's almost like this one has missed everybody simply because he says so much but this is so right what he is saying. I have spoken to Gary, I am behind him."

Joshua Lees