BBC in chaos as Football Focus is AXED hours after Match Of The Day presenters walk out over Lineker Twitter storm
THE BBC has been plunged into chaos with Football Focus being axed just hours before it was scheduled to go on air.
The shock cancellation comes as Match of the Day hosts are set to stage a mutiny tonight after the BBC yanked Gary Lineker off air over a Nazi tweet row.
Gary compared the Government’s language around its small boats crackdown to that of 1930s Germany – causing him to be suspended by the Beeb.
And with his fellow Match of the Day presenters refusing to appear on air in solidarity today the show is being forced to go ahead without presenters, pundits or commentators.
Now in another shocking twist, it’s been revealed that Football Focus is being pulled off the air.
The Sun revealed this morning that Alex Scott chose to not host the programme following the suspension storm.
And her replacement Kelly Somers confirmed on Twitter she would also not be fronting the popular lunchtime programme.
Ex-England ace Scott, 38, said: “I made a decision last night that even though I love doing football focus and we have had an incredible week winning an SJA award that it just doesn’t feel right going ahead with the show today. Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week…”
Somers added: “Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today.”
The BBC confirmed the show off had been scrapped as the crisis triggered by the row with Lineker continued to tear through the channel’s sports programmes.
A spokesperson said it will air “limited sport programming” over the weekend and is “working hard to resolve the situation”.
The results programme Final Score is also believed to have been taken off air, with a BBC reporter saying the “programme is not going ahead”.
Former Arsenal Women’s player Scott – who replaced Dan Walker as Football Focus host – told colleagues she chose to step back from the BBC One show in solidarity for Gary.
A source said: “Alex fully supports Gary and last night decided she would not host Football Focus to show her support for him.
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
“Alex was in Media City in Manchester preparing for the show yesterday but after seeing the news play out said she did not feel comfortable.”
The BBC announced yesterday they had asked Lineker to step down while they worked out the row.
The move left Lineker stunned. A source said: “This has been a tumultuous 24 hours. Gary is in shock and had no idea this was coming.
“He wanted to go on air, make no bones about it, this was not his decision.
“Privately, everyone at the Beeb is in meltdown too. They genuinely don’t know how they will get a show out because no one wants to touch it.
“Everyone in the industry is appalled at how Gary has been hung out to dry, and the general BBC inconsistency.
“Gary wept when he found out his mates had all publicly backed him. “The support has been overwhelming which, essentially, is a massive pie in the face for the BBC.
“Gary wasn’t willing to pretend to support something he vehemently doesn’t agree with.
“He doesn’t need the cash and, frankly, it seems hard to imagine a way back for either party from here.”
Lineker was today spotted breaking cover for the first time since the suspension.
In a smart suit and tie the host smiled and greeted reporters before getting into his car.
Later today footie fans who tune into Match of the Day will see highlights with no “studio presentation” or any player or manager interviews.
The move comes as BBC’s botched statement caused outrage among his fellow hosts.
Pal Wright tweeted that he will step away, saying: “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity.”
Shearer soon followed, saying: “I have informed the BBC I wont be appearing on MoTD.”
And pundit Richards backed the boycotters – saying he’d do the same if he was asked to host.
Piers Morgan said of the Beeb last night: “This is a ridiculous decision. If the BBC really believes its presenters shouldn’t have political opinions then I look forward to them suspending David Attenborough and Alan Sugar and everyone else who has presented BBC shows but makes public their opinions.”
Broadcasters Jeff Stelling and Laura Woods also backed Lineker.
And Mark Chapman and Dion Dublin have stepped down from BBC 5 Live radio duties in solidarity.
Chapman, 49, and Dublin, 53, were due to be on air this afternoon – but SunSport can reveal they will not be taking to the mic.
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 move means the dulcet tones of commentators Conor McNamara, Simon Brotherton and Robyn Cowen will fall silent.
Fans earlier put the boot into the BBC – with some claiming they will boycott Match of the Day after Mr Lineker was taken off air.
Fans rushed in with comments like: “Oh no, cancel all EPL games tomorrow, no one to host MOTD.”
Another said: “Lineker gets yellow card and sends off Wright and Shearer.”
Meanwhile, Alastair Campbell – who hosts a podcast run by Lineker’s media firm Goalhanger Podcasts – told Sky News he fears “we’ve seen him on Match of the Day for the last time.”