News / Bristol Rovers
Rovers club and City manager join BBC boycott over Gary Lineker row
Bristol Rovers and the Bristol City manager, Nigel Pearson have both joined the growing boycott of the BBC, following Gary Lineker’s removal from the football programme, Match of the Day.
Bristol Rovers has declared they won’t be speaking to any reporters before or after their Saturday game, using the trending hashtag #WeStandWithGary.
Nigel Pearson, Bristol City’s manager, announced his support for Lineker ahead of their game against Blackpool at Ashton Gate on the same day, tweeting: “We all have the liberty to express our own views, that’s what living in a democracy represents.
is needed now More than ever
“Freedom of speech is a precious commodity. The BBC have misread the football community’s moral compass. @GaryLineker has my unconditional support.”
Traditionally, BBC Radio Bristol interviews Rovers League One side manager, Joey Barton before and after each game. The radio station will still cover the game however. BBC Radio Gloucestershire will also not be able to interview Barton.
City FC provided two players for BBC Radio Bristol post match interviews however: captain and goal scorer Andi Weimann and league debutant Oma Taylor-Clarke.
The boycott comes after the BBC announced Lineker would be “stepping back” from Match of the Day following his tweets around the government’s new immigration bill.
In a series of tweets, the ex-footballer and presenter criticised the bill, comparing the language used to that of Germany in the 1930s.
The BBC ruled that Lineker had breached impartiality guidelines, and that he would remain off the show until the BBC had reached an agreement on the use of his social media.
Rovers and Nigel Pearson join a growing wave of public figures who have boycotted the BBC following the row, with Lineker’s co-hosts, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer declaring they would not not appearing on the programme in solidarity with the ex-England striker.
A number of commentators and other football stars have also pulled out of their respective shows on the BBC.
The response to Rovers and Nigel Pearson’s tweets has been largely positive on the social media platform, with co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer, applauding Rovers’ decision. Some have argued that the debate between BBC in London and Gary Lineker should not have an effect on local radio.
Main photo: BBC
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