GARY Lineker has been the backbone of the Match of the Day presenting team for almost a quarter of a century.
But the former Leicester, Spurs and Barcelona striker wont be appearing on the show on Saturday February 10 — here we take a look at why.
RexGary Lineker was suspended from MOTD in March 2023 for breaking the Beeb’s impartiality rules[/caption]
Where is Gary Lineker and why isn’t he on Match of the Day?
Gary Lineker has been forced to pull out of presenting Match of the Day on Saturday February 10, 2024.
He usually hosts the football highlights show every Saturday night.
Gary took to X, formerly Twitter, on the afternoon of the show he’s missing to break the news to fans.
In typical style, he joked: “Some good news for some: I’ve been silenced….with a rotten cold that seems to be lasting forever.
“Hate missing hosting @BBCMOTD but I’ll be watching.”
So instead of being in the studio, he’ll be convalescing at home.
Fans were quick to wish the former striker well, with one person tweeting: “Get well soon Gary, we need you in strong voice!”
Another commented: “Get well soon Gary!”
While a Newcastle fan joked: “Get well soon Gary. And you’re doing the right thing. We don’t want Wor Al catching it .”
Gary is regularly joined on the show by pundits including Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Micah Richards.
MOTD and BBC Sport struck a new four-year agreement with the Premier League in December 2023, meaning the TV programme will continue to show Premier League highlights until 2029.
Gary is also believed to be set to agree a huge contract extension with the BBC.
Who has replaced Gary Lineker?
Mark Chapman will step in to replace Gary while he is ill.
The Manchester United fan has been a regular on Final Score and Match of the Day 2.
So although Chappers is BBC Sport’s chief rugby league presenter, he also knows a thing or two about the beautiful game.
When was Gary Lineker last missing from Match of the Day?
The BBC dramatically suspended Gary from Match of the Day in 2023, leading to the programme being broadcast without presenters, pundits or the usual commentary team over the weekend of March 11/12.
This came after the BBC ruled that a tweet he posted about former Home Secretary Suella Braverman broke impartiality rules.
Gary took to Twitter to hit out at the Illegal Migration Bill, which bans migrants who arrive on small boats from ever settling in Britain.
His suspension sparked chaos as scores of his co-hosts launched a mutiny.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Some of our pundits have said that they don’t wish to appear on the programme while we seek to resolve the situation with Gary.
“We understand their position and we have decided that the programme will focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry.”
The show’s commentary also stood down, with commentators usually heard on football broadcasts outside of the UK replacing them.
Gary and the team returned MOTD to present highlights of the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 18, 2023.
More recently Gary missed the footy highlights and analysis programme on April 1, 2023.
It was no April Fool’s Day joke, as he explained in a tweet: “Just so there’s no misunderstanding, I won’t be doing @BBCMOTD tonight.
“I’m not suspended, just on holiday. Back next week. ”