Alex Scott’s solidarity with Gary Lineker sees her ‘pull OUT of presenting Football Focus’ today

Football Focus and Final Score will not air today after BBC bosses were forced to shelve the show following a mass walk-out by pundits, presenters, and commentators in support of colleague Gary Lineker. 

Alex Scott, the regular host of the day time show since May 2021, told the broadcaster last night that she would be suspending hosting duties of the mid-day football show in solidarity with Gary Lineker.

This follows the BBC’s decision to take Lineker off the air in the wake of his controversial tweet that said the government’s new ‘Stop The Boats’ immigration policy was ‘not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s’.

Kelly Somers, who was expected to replace Scott today, also said she would not appear.

Sportsmail now believes both programmes will not go ahead as scheduled today.

Alex Scott is a recognisable face on the BBC’s sports coverage and her absence creates another issue for the broadcaster to solve

Match of the Day has been thrown into chaos in the wake of Lineker’s suspension of duties

Alex Scott Tweeted earlier that broadcasting Football Focus today ‘just doesn’t feel right.’

She wrote: ‘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, who was tipped to replace Scott, also said: ‘Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today’. 

Final Score host Jason Mohamed also tweeted on the mass walk-out: ‘As you know, Final Score is a TV show very close to my heart.

‘I have this morning informed the BBC that I will not be presenting the show this afternoon on BBC One.’

It comes as the Premier League informed clubs that players and managers would be stood down from their post-match Match of the Day and BBC TV commitments during a chaotic Friday night.

Sportsmail understands, however, that – for the time being – the BBC’s Radio Five Live coverage will not be impacted.

This presenter shake-up is the latest in a string of walk-outs since the BBC’s much-debated call to suspend Lineker.

Lineker’s colleagues Ian Wright and Alan Shearer were among the first to confirm they would not be appearing on this evening’s broadcast on Match Of The Day.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright said last night: ‘Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity.’

Alan Shearer also announced: ‘I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night.’  

Alex Scott then followed them in refusing to appear on the flagship football show. She tweeted a short meme which showed US politician Bernie Sanders saying ‘Nah! Not me.’ 

Jermaine Jenas – regarded as an eventual successor to Lineker – said he was not due to be on tonight but would have boycotted the show.

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards also backed Wright and Shearer’s decision to boycott the BBC show.

‘I was not due to be working on MOTD tomorrow, but if I was, I would find myself taking the same decision that @IanWright0 & @alanshearer have,’ he tweeted.

The BBC announced their plan to host the show without pundits in the wake of this news late last night.

 

 

The presenter hinted a speculation that she would take over MOTD with a straightforward no

The broadcaster has been thrown into turmoil and must contend not only with decisions over its impartiality position, but a growing void of presenting slots to fill. 

But the BBC’s issue may extend beyond their own employees, with Jurgen Klopp leading a managers and players boycott of the broadcaster this weekend. 

The Premier League has now let those from the 12 clubs playing on Saturday that MOTD will not request post-match interviews with managers or players. 

Sportsmail believes this absence only extends to television coverage, and that usual access will be provided to BBC 5 Live.