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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Emma Gritt

Football Focus replaced by BBC show after Alex Scott boycott over Gary Lineker row

Today's episode of Football Focus has been pulled from telly schedules and replaced with an extended episode of Bargain Hunt.

The decision to axe the weekly sport show came amid a bust-up between BBC bosses and Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker, who has refused to apologise for a tweet comparing the Conservative's 'stop small boats' legislation with Nazi Germany.

He has been made to "step back" from presenting the weekly football show - and many of his colleagues have also refused to work in a show of solidarity.

Among them is former Lioness Alex Scott, who tweeted earlier this morning she had decided not to present Football Focus as usual.

She tweeted: "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…"

Alex Scott has pulled out of presenting Football Focus (Getty Images)

Many of her followers welcomed her decision, with one replying: "I admire your integrity and bravery. Good people need to speak up now. You will inspire others to do the same."

Another said: "I’m so glad to see everyone standing up for their belief, regardless of the cost to their pockets. This ain’t about whether Gary is right or wrong, it’s about the suppression of a valid opinion and being able to express that opinion, without a kangaroo court ruling on you."

Gary's row with the BBC has sent shockwaves through the sports broadcasting industry.

He described the government's new Migration Bill as "beyond awful" after it was unveiled by home secretary Suella Braverman on Tuesday - later adding: "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."

Ian Wright has confirmed that he will not appear on Match of the Day again if the Leicester icon is sacked by the BBC.

Wright and his fellow pundits, including Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and sports commentators, have refused to appear on Saturday night's edition of Match of the Day, meaning that it will be a purely highlights show.

The BBC's other Saturday football programme, Final Score, has also been scrapped altogether after more pundits stood by Lineker in solidarity.

However, not everyone was disappointed to see Football Focus taken off air today.

One sport-hater commented: "Excellent. I rather enjoy Bargain Hunt. Footballs fans can get all the information they need about their beloved game online."

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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