Match of the Day 2 expected to be scaled down as hosts and pundits back Gary Lineker
Match of the Day 2 is expected to continue in the same format as MOTD with no host or comment after Mark Chapman withdrew in solidarity with Gary Lineker…as WSL coverage has also been affected by boycotts.
Match of the Day 2 is likely to be without host Mark Chapman and the show is expected to have a reduced format.
The format is expected to be similar to Saturday night’s Match of the Day with no pundits, presenters or commentary.
Match of the Day went down after main presenter Gary Lineker was removed from the broadcast for a recent tweet that saw him compare the UK government’s planned policy on asylum seekers to ‘1930s Germany’.
His removal from the show was followed by co-hosts and commentators refusing to appear on Saturday’s football highlights show.
Radio commentators and even some Premier League managers and players boycotted interviews with the organisation.
Mark Chapman is not expected to host a reduced Match of the Day 2 on Sunday
Uncertainty over the format of Match of the Day 2 increased when presenter Mark Chapman withdrew from his BBC radio duties on Saturday.
Jermain Defoe also announced that he had stepped down from his pundit role on the show.
“Always a great privilege to work with BBC MOTD,” the former England striker tweeted.
But tomorrow I have made the decision to retire from my duties as an expert.
Match Of The Day lasted just 20 minutes on Saturday after a day of chaos for the BBC, which forced the broadcaster to cancel most of its football coverage.
It was rebranded as ‘Premier League Highlights’ during its broadcast on Saturday night.
The show aired only short highlight clips from the day’s matches. Between each clip, a graphic appeared showing which teams were playing.
While the usual match commentary was replaced by the sound of the crowd inside each stadium.