Alex Scott returns to BBC Football Focus after strong view on Gary Lineker saga

18 March 2023 , 11:22

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Alex Scott was back on the BBC presenting Football Focus on Saturday (Image: Football Focus)

Alex Scott has appeared on the BBC for the first time since refusing to present Football Focus last weekend in solidarity with Gary Lineker.

Scott was joined by pundits Nedum Onuoha and Martin Keown on BBC One at 11.15am to preview the weekend's action on a shorter 30-minute episode of Football Focus. There was no mention of the previous weekend of chaos on the BBC, with Scott sticking to the script before going into an interview with Burnley manager Vincent Kompany.

Scott was one of Lineker’s colleagues who decided they would not work on the broadcaster’s sports programmes after the corporation made the decision to suspend him. The Match of the Day presenter was taken off air on Friday after he refused to apologise for tweeting criticism of the Government’s bill on illegal migrants.

The decision sparked an almighty backlash, with Ian Wright and Alan Shearer becoming the first pundits to announce their intentions to stand in solidarity with Gary Lineker. They were then backed up by many of their colleagues, with Scott, Micah Richards, Jermaine Jenas and Mark Chapman, among others, pulling out.

Last weekend Scott, who has regularly appeared on Match of the Day as a pundit and presented Football Focus, tweeted a GIF of Bernie Sanders saying "Nah! Not me" in an apparent response to people suggesting she might fill Lineker's shoes on Match of the Day. The former Arsenal star then confirmed that she would also be stepping back from Football Focus.

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"I made a decision last night that even though I love my show and we have had an incredible week winning an SJA for Football Focus that it doesn't feel right for me to go ahead with the show today," she tweeted. "Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week."

Alex Scott refused to present Football Focus last weekend (PA)

Like Scott, Lineker is due back on our screens on Saturday, but he will not be making his much-anticipated return on Match of the Day.

He will present coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final clash between Manchester City and Burnley on Saturday evening. The match will be live on BBC One from 5.25pm ahead of kick-off at 5.45pm at City’s Etihad Stadium. Chapman will then present Match of the Day to cover the day’s Premier League highlights.

After he was reinstated by the BBC, Lineker tweeted thanks to his colleagues that stood by him. "After a surreal few days, I’m delighted that we have navigated a way through this,” he tweeted.

“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."

Felix Keith