Alan Shearer apology at start of FA Cup coverage said it all about Gary Lineker
Alan Shearer famously stood by Gary Lineker when he was forced to step away from his role with BBC Match of the Day, following his stance on the then-Government's controversial policy on asylum seekers
Alan Shearer's apology to Match of the Day fans in the wake of Gary Lineker's suspension spoke volumes about his relationship with his long-time co-presenter. Lineker infamously found himself pulled from his hosting duties with the BBC in March 2023, following an impartiality row due to his views on the the then-UK Government's new asylum policy.
In a post on X following the Government's announcement, Lineker compared the language used by the Conservatives to that of Nazi Germany. He wrote: "Good heavens, this is beyond awful," adding: "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, and I'm out of order?"
Soon after, the BBC announced that Lineker was temporarily relieved of his duties with Match of the Day, until they reached "an agreed and clear position on his use of social media." As a result, Shearer, Ian Wright and a host of others refused to appear on the show in Lineker's absence, with the showing on March 11, 2023, cut to 20 minutes long and without analysis or punditry.
Speaking about his co-hosts showing solidarity, Lineker told the The Rest Is Politics podcast: "I must admit, I had a tear in my eye. It just moved me, it was beautiful.
"When it first happened...it's one thing saying that in a moment, but then actually to carry that through, they didn't need to do that." However, Lineker was back to work the following week for Manchester City's quarter-final clash against Burnley in the FA Cup, alongside Shearer and Micah Richards.
And it didn't take long for Shearer to apologise to viewers who missed out on their usual MOTD fix due to the debacle. He said at the start of the broadcast: "I just need to clear up and wanted to say how upset we were for the audience that missed out last weekend.
"It was a really difficult situation for everyone concerned and through no fault of their own some really great people in TV and radio were put in an impossible situation and that wasn't fair, so it's good to get back to some sort of normality and be talking about football again."
To which, Lineker added: "Absolutely, I echo those sentiments." It comes as time is ticking down on Lineker and Shearer's working relationship together with the BBC.
While Lineker has been the face of Match of the Day since 1999, he announced late last year that the 2024/25 Premier League season will be his last one fronting the flagship show. The 64-year-old will be replaced by a trio of presenters for 2025/26, with Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan, as the show is set to see significant revamping.
However, Lineker will continue to work for the BBC on their FA Cup coverage, as well as the 2026 World Cup. Elsewhere, Lineker will also continue to run his The Rest Is Football podcast with Shearer and Richards.
It comes as Lineker and Shearer are expected to front the BBC's coverage of this weekend's FA Cup final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Wembley. The Cityzens will look to atone for last year's final, in which they suffered defeat to neighbours, Manchester United in a shock 2-1 loss.
A result for the Blues will mark the third FA Cup that Pep Guardiola has brought back to the Etihad, as well as the club's seventh in total. It's a polar opposite state of affairs for the Eagles, however, who are yet to taste victory in a final of the FA Cup.
The London-based side have made two finals over the years in 1990 and 2016, but suffered defeat to the Red Devils on both occasions. And many fans will hope that it's third time lucky for Palace under Oliver Glasner.
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