Gary Lineker will return to Match of the Day and BBC bosses will apologise

Gary Lineker will return to BBC TV this weekend with no further punishment after BBC bosses backed down over his anti-conservative tweets, and the star is even expected to receive an apology for being taken off the air.

In an extraordinary capitulation, managing director Tim Davie has moved to secure a deal with the 62-year-old footballer-turned-broadcaster so he can present coverage of the FA Cup this weekend.

It marks a major victory for the former England captain, the BBC’s highest-paid star at £1.35m a year, over the BBC’s £5.3bn a year in the crisis sparked by his anti-Tory tweets.

The row saw Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2 reduced to short shows with no hosts, pundits, commentators, or their famous tune. On-screen talent, including former England strikers Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, refused to appear in “solidarity” with Lineker. There was even a pro-Lineker protest outside the BBC in Salford.

To end the dispute, the BBC is expected to be forced to launch a review of its guidelines on impartiality for independent presenters like Lineker, 62.

Until today, Lineker had refused to think about her future while walking her dog in south-west London yesterday. But last night, Sky News reported that sources close to Lineker said they are “increasingly confident” that the dispute will be resolved “to his satisfaction” within the next 24 hours.

BBC Director General Tim Davie, pictured here in an interview with Nomia Iqbal yesterday, has denied he will resign over the dispute. The prime minister refused yesterday to give him his confidence

The ‘ambiguities’ in the presenter’s contract meant that the corporation cannot force him to follow its rules, which prohibit staff members from making political comments. Lawyers are said to have advised the BBC that he could not be fired without a multimillion-dollar payday.

The BBC is said to have offered ‘a horrible overhaul’ of its social media guidelines, The times reports.

Tim Davie’s own future could be in doubt after he came under fire for his handling of the matter. Rishi Sunak did not want to know if she retains confidence in him or in BBC chairman Richard Sharp.

The BBC is currently due to broadcast two of the four FA Cup games this weekend, including the long-awaited tie between Premier League side Brighton and giant-killing minnows Grimsby Town, but the interruption of its football coverage from the Friday has called this into question.

Mr. Lineker will host one of those shows, not the match-of-the-day highlights show this weekend, according to reports.

And in a sign of a thaw in the dispute, a BBC spokesman said: “We are working hard on a resolution and hope to have him back with us as soon as possible.”

A BBC source told the Telegraph that things are “moving quickly”, adding: “Tim Davie has made it clear that he wants to resolve the situation and see the MOTD presenter back on the air.”

“Gary and his representatives have been in talks for several days and are ongoing.”

Protesters gather outside the BBC’s main sports studio in Salford to show their support for Gary Lineker.

Saturday’s day game was cut to just 20 minutes in length as presenters, staff and commentators refused to come to work in support of Lineker.

Lineker was seen in public for the first time yesterday after Match of the Day aired without him the night before.

Lineker, 62, was taken off the air by the organization’s bosses on Friday after he criticized the government’s anti-illegal immigration bill, prompting a strike by colleagues.

It comes after BBC chief Tim Davie flew back from the US yesterday in an attempt to defuse a dispute that affected the corporation’s sports coverage this weekend.

There is “hope for a resolution soon, but not all issues are ‘fully resolved’ at this stage,” BBC News said.

A source added: “Both parties have been working on something that will satisfy the BBC’s concerns and allow Gary to get back on the air.” Things are going in the right direction.

The BBC’s top brass are said to fear they will not be able to sack the former England striker, or force him to follow a social media policy, due to ambiguities in his contract.

Instead, top officials believe they would be forced to pay millions if Lineker were fired and are likely to lose any legal claims he may subsequently bring. the independent reports.

Lineker is said to have a 24-month contract negotiated prior to Davie’s arrival.

And despite Davie repeatedly stressing the importance of fairness, Lineker’s contract was not updated.

Meanwhile, presenters, pundits and commentators have refused to appear at an act of solidarity, with Match of the Day 2 airing last night without a presenter and lasting just 14 minutes. An apology was made to viewers before the show.

A continuity announcer said: “Now on BBC One, sorry we can’t show our normal Match Of The Day 2 including commentary tonight, but this is the best action from today’s Premier League matches.”