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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Samuel Meade

What Match of the Day could look like with NO pundits and players boycotting interviews

Match of the Day will air as usual on Saturday, but not like we've ever seen before.

The ripple affect of Gary Lineker being told to step aside means BBC's highlights show will feature exactly that - highlights - but little else. Often fans, after the famous entrance music, can expect Lineker to open things up, introducing his pundits before kicking off the action.

Well there won't be much of that on the programme after the BBC held "extensive discussions with Gary and team in recent days" and "has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we've got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media".

Since then Ian Wright was the first to show solidarity as he confirmed he wouldn't appear before Alan Shearer followed suit. It left the BBC desperately looking for some replacements, but one by one they dropped as they sided with Lineker. The likes of Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott and Mark Chapman all ruled themselves out.

No grand opening or running order

Often it is Lineker who, after the introductory clips, introduces the show, often with a little bit of wit to get things up and running. Last week he said: "The gap widened again on Wednesday, seven games on Match of the Day including the top two. That is of course Arsenal and Manchester City, not Danny Murphy and Ian Wright."

That normally comes after he's been on Twitter to announce which order the game highlights will be shown in, thus allowing fans to know when they can expect to see their club.

Gary Lineker will not host the BBC highlights show (Daily Mirror)

Instead it will be something of a surprise with six games taking place tomorrow, including City's trip to Crystal Palace and Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest. The show, following the intro music, could well descend into back-to-back highlights without any analysis.

Commentary-less games, no interviews

The highlights that are shown could also feature crowd noise and no more. The commentators will follow suit and have decided not to undertake their duties following talks with their union representatives. Steve Wilson, Guy Mowbray and Martin Fisher are among those to regularly commentate on games.

Conor McNamara, another commentator, said on social media: "As commentators on MOTD, we have decided to step down from tomorrow night's broadcast. We know that football fans who want to watch their teams should still be able to do so, as management can use World Feed commentary if they wish. However, in the circumstances, we do not feel it would be appropriate to take part in the programme."

The BBC is seemingly struggling to find the staff to fill the various roles this weekend and their coverage could be further dented amid talk of players choosing not to fulfil their media commitments with the broadcaster. The BBC along with the likes of Sky and BT, get access to players due to their contracts with fines dished out to those who don't fulfil their end of the bargain.

Alan Shearer, as well as the other pundits, will not appear meaning there will be no analysis (BBC)

It was reported that players are keen to back the likes of Lineker, Wright and Shearer with the PFA standing by them should they choose not to engage with the organisation.

A greatly reduced running time

Last week Match of the Day went on for an hour and twenty minutes, but if there is to be no analysis then the programme won't run for half as long. Arsenal's win over Bournemouth was the first game up last weekend and the analysis lasted five minutes.

That came after several players spoke to the BBC, which could again be off the cards this weekend amid the fallout of their Lineker decision. The concerns for the bosses at the organisation is just how long there will have to accept a greatly reduced show.

The product will be greatly diluted and, with no resolution seemingly close regarding Lineker, this could rumble on. The well-known presenter firmly stands by his tweet and doesn't look set to change his tune, leaving those at the BBC with a decision to make.

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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