Newspaper headlines: Lineker 'chaos' pressures BBC chiefs and asylum plan
Sunday's front pages focus on the impartiality row between presenter Gary Lineker and the BBC.
Most of Sunday's
front pages reflect the impact of a day of disruption for sports
programming at the BBC following the decision to ask Match of the Day
host Gary Lineker to step aside. In its front page, the Sunday Times
reports that the broadcaster has "descended into chaos with its chairman
facing renewed pressure to resign". The paper says Lineker's suspension
from hosting Saturday's MOTD in an impartiality row over his social
media use "led to mutiny" as many presenters, pundits and commentators
pulled out in solidarity.
The Mail on
Sunday says Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has "dramatically intervened" in
the impartiality row between football star Gary Lineker and the BBC. The
paper says the PM defended the asylum policy that the presenter
criticised. The paper calls the change to the BBC's sports programming
schedule on Saturday a "day of unprecedented drama" amid an "astonishing
staff mutiny".
The Observer says
the Lineker row "threatens to topple BBC chiefs" as well as "derail
parts of the government's controversial new asylum policy". In its
Sunday spread, the paper reports that BBC Chairman Richard Sharp and the
corporation's Director General Tim Davie "were both under growing
pressure to resign," as leading sports and media personalities have
continued to defend the football star's "right to criticise what he
regards as racist language used by ministers to promote their
immigration policy".
The Sunday
Telegraph reports on comments made by BBC Director General Tim Davie,
who said he would "absolutely not" be resigning but admitted "this has
been a tough time for the BBC". Interviewed by BBC News, Mr Davie
apologised to licence fee payers after a day of disruption for sports
programming.
The Daily Star calls the BBC "a laughing stock" after much of the
broadcaster's football coverage "was savaged by the Gary Lineker
furore".
"BBC Sport
blackout" is the Sunday Express' headline. The paper says the BBC was
"plunged into crisis... with top football shows forced off air" - as
many presenters, pundits and commentators decided to walk out in
solidarity with Gary Lineker.
"BBC begs Gary to
come back" is the Sunday People's headline. As the row between the
football star and the BBC enters another day, the Sunday paper reports
on the wish from BBC boss Tim Davie's wish for the return for "superb"
Lineker.
The Sunday Mirror
leads on comments from Gary Lineker's son, George. The paper says he
has described the row as "hurtful" but says his father "won't go back on
his word" and be silenced.