Alan Shearer reveals he WON’T appear on MoD after Gary Lineker taken off air

ALAN Shearer has joined Ian Wright in boycotting Match of the Day tomorrow night – in solidarity with Gary Lineker’s suspension from the show.

The corporation said Mr Lineker’s criticism of the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill on Twitter was a “breach of our guidelines”.

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The pundit will now step back from presenting duties on the flagship football show – that he’s presented since 1999 – until a “clear position” on his social media use is agreed.

Following the decision, Mr Shearer said he would not appear on Saturday’s episode, tweeting: “I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night.”

It followed Ian Wright’s decision to do the same as he 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.”

It is unclear who will present the show in place of the three pundits.

Mr Lineker sparked a free speech row when he compared the Governments plans to ban migrants arriving on small boats from settling in Britain with “1930’s Germany”.

It came as he responded to a video on Twitter of Home Secretary Suella Braverman as she presented the Government’s plan.

He shared the clip, commenting: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”

Responding to another user who described him as “out of order”, he added: “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, and I’m out of order?”

In a statement earlier, the BBC outlined they had undergone “extensive discussions” with the ex-England star, 62, following the furore.

While the beeb praised his sports coverage as “second to none” they said he should “keep well away from taking sides” on party political topics.

The full statement read: “The BBC has 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.

“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.”