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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Daniel Orme

Alex Scott PULLS OUT of Football Focus role amid Gary Lineker row as BBC cancel show

Alex Scott has pulled out of her Football Focus with the BBC forced to cancel the programme amid their row with Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.

Lineker has been pulled from screens ahead of Saturday's highlights package for a tweet he posted in response to the government's asylum policies. It was initially suggested that Scott would be a prime candidate to appear in his absence but she announced that she would not be stepping forward.

"I made a decision last night that even though I love my show and we have had an incredible week winning an SJA for Football Focus that it doesn't feel right for me to go ahead with the show today," tweeted Scot. "Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week."

The ex-Arsenal star had previously shared a GIF of Bernie Sanders on Twitter saying "Nah! Not me" with the caption "FYI". Now, the former Arsenal defender has seemingly gone a step further by pulling out of Football Focus - a role she has held sin

It was expected that Scott would be replaced by Kelly Somers but she too has pulled out of all programming. A short statement on Twitter read: "Just to confirm I won't be on BBC television today."

Alex Scott has presented Football Focus since 2021 (Getty Images)

Should Gary Lineker be reinstated for Match of the Day? Share your thoughts in the comments below

The pair's stance has seen the BBC's football programming thrown into chaos, with the channel forced to take both Football Focus and Final Score off of Saturday's schedule. Scott and Somers are not Lineker's only punditry colleagues to have offered their support amid the row with the BBC. Ian Wright and Alan Shearer have both announced that they will not be appearing on Match of the Day on Saturday.

The former Arsenal man wrote: "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 then followed suit with a similar statement of his own. "I have informed the BBC that I won't be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night," he wrote.

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards also announced that he would have turned down the opportunity to appear on the programme despite having not been scheduled to work. The decisions have left the BBC scrambling over their footballing schedule over the next few days.

Match of the Day is still set to be broadcast on Saturday but will take on a slightly different complexion. It will consist of a highlights package of the six Premier League games set to take place but without hosts and pundits.

There are also questions about commentators and interviews throughout the programme. Steve Wilson has already confirmed that he and his commentary colleagues will not work on Match of the Day on Saturday.

Post-match interviews with players and managers are also expected to not take place after the PFA was consulted ahead of the weekend's games.

The Mirror has launched a petition to have Gary Lineker reinstated at the BBC and as the host of Match of the Day. Sign it here.

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