Klopp bemused by Gary Lineker's sanction by BBC

Fallout from Lineker reprimand continues as MOTD commentators boycott BBC show (James Manning/PA)

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said he cannot understand the BBC's decision to stand down Gary Lineker from presenting Match of the Day, insisting it should be possible for people to express their opinions.

Lineker was taken off air for a tweet which compared the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany.

But the BBC has been left apologising for broadcasting only "limited sport programming" this weekend after several presenters, pundits, commentators and reporters joined a boycott in support of Lineker.

Speaking after his side's 1-0 loss to Bournemouth, Klopp said: "I'm not native but I cannot see why you would ask someone to step back for saying that. I'm not sure if it is a language issue or not but that is the world we are living in.

"Everybody wants to be so concerned about doing things in the right manner, saying the right stuff. If you don't do that then you create a s***storm, it is a really difficult world to live in.

"If I understand it right, it is a message, an opinion about human rights and that should be possible to say."

Neither managers nor players will be asked to speak to the BBC as part of their post-match media duties on Saturday.

Klopp added: "It is not about me now showing the BBC, it is not that the guy with the BBC mic is a bad person.

"I heard about the 'rules' of BBC that you are not allowed to have these opinions, it is a difficult world to live in. I can't say more."

This follows news that Saturday’s Match Of The Day will go ahead without a presenter, pundits and several regular commentators, following the fallout over Gary Lineker’s removal from the BBC show.

On top of that, players involved in the weekend's Premier League games have opted not to speak to the highlights show either.

Neither Football Focus or Final Score will air either, with the programmes being replaced by Bargain Hunt and The Repair Shop respectively.

BBC football presenter and former England player Alex Scott, who presents Football Focus on Saturday, tweeted: “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.. Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week….”

Former England footballers and MOTD regulars including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright previously announced they would be boycotting Match of the Day, in solidarity with Lineker.

Late on Friday evening several of the show’s commentators shared a joint statement online, announcing they would also be stepping down from Saturday’s broadcast.

“As commentators on MOTD, we have decided to step down from tomorrow night’s broadcast,” the statement read.

“We are comforted that football fans who want to watch their teams should still be able to do so, as management can use World Feed commentary if they wish.

“However, in the circumstances, we do not feel it would be appropriate to take part in the programme.”

The statement was shared by MOTD commentators including Steve Wilson, Conor McNamara, Robyn Rowen and Steven Wyeth.

On Saturday morning, a statement from the Professional Footballer's Association confirmed that the players "will not be asked to participate in interviews with Match of the Day."

The statement added that the association had wanted to take a "collective position" and show support for those who had already opted not to be a part of the programme.

They said it was a "common sense decision".

BBC Radio 5 Live Sport is also believed to be facing the possibility of withdrawals ahead of Saturday's action.

It comes after Lineker, 62, became embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany on Twitter.

The broadcaster said it had “decided” Lineker would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media had been reached.

Earlier, BBC director-general Tim Davie – who warned staff about their use of social media when he took on the role at the end of 2020 before guidelines on their use were updated – was asked by BBC News why Lineker had not been sacked.

Mr Davie replied: “Well I think we always look to take proportionate action and that’s what we’ve done.”

He said he would not “add to” the corporation’s current statement on the matter, but that there had been “very constructive discussions”.

Reacting to Shearer and Wright’s boycott, the BBC boss added: “I absolutely respect people’s right to make that decision, and BBC Sport have to look at the programme they will produce for the weekend as normal.”

Before the BBC announcement, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards and ex-footballer Jermaine Jenas – who were both not due to appear this weekend on MOTD – also backed their fellow pundits.

An online petition calling for Lineker to be reinstated in his post, organised by The Daily Mirror on Friday, reached 100,000 signatures in under 10 hours.

Announcing the decision regarding Lineker on Friday, a spokesperson for the BBC said the broadcaster had been “in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines”.

They continued: “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.

“When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none.

“We have never said that Gary should be an opinion-free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said that “individual cases” were a matter for the BBC.

Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu – which represents thousands of BBC workers, said the Lineker decision was “deeply concerning” and “will give the appearance that they have bowed to political pressure from ministers”.

The row was first sparked by Lineker’s response on Twitter to a Home Office video in which Home Secretary Suella Braverman unveiled the Government’s plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel on small boats.

The ex-England striker wrote: “There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.

“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the ’30s.”

Current BBC guidelines state staff need to follow editorial guidelines and editorial oversight on social media in the same way as when doing content.

Lineker is a freelance broadcaster for the BBC, not a permanent member of staff, and is not responsible for news or political content so does not need to adhere to the same rules on impartiality.

Despite this, last year he was named as the BBC’s top earning on-air talent for the fifth consecutive year.