Football Focus cancelled as players snub Match of the Day with BBC in meltdown
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The BBC is in full blown crisis with Football Focus now cancelled on Saturday afternoon as the Gary Lineker debacle continues.
Football Focus had been expected to go ahead as planned, despite the extraordinary situation surrounding Match of the Day. But it was dramatically dropped on Saturday morning as the BBC struggled to get to grips with the fallout from axing former England man Lineker.
Football Focus had been due to air in its regular midday slot but was shelved after presenter Alex Scott revealed she would not be presenting the show. She tweeted just after 10pm, writing: "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.
READ MORE: Alex Scott pulls out of Football Focus in support of Gary Lineker as MOTD row continues
"Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week…."
Colleague Kelly Somers had been touted as a possible replacement for Scott until she also ruled herself out. She tweeted: "Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today."
Just like Match of the Day, that left Football Focus without a main presenter and the show was ultimately shelved for this week.
Premier League players are also set to boycott the BBC this weekend, starting with the lunchtime kick-off between Bournemouth and Liverpool.
It is understood that multiple players had contacted the PFA to seek advice on the situation after feeling uneasy about being interviewed by the BBC before and after today's matches.
The Premier League have since told clubs that they will not be taking requests from Match of the Day for post-match interviews after Saturday's six top flight fixtures.
As a result, Saturday night's edition of Match of the Day is now set to be without a presenter, pundits, the usual BBC commentators and post-match interviews with players and managers.
The BBC have confirmed, though, that the broadcast will still go ahead as the fallout from their Lineker decision continues.
READ NEXT:
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Match of the Day crisis gets worse as commentators boycott – and players could be next
Matt Le Tissier brands Ian Wright's solidarity with Lineker as 'completely contradictory'
BBC Match of the Day to go ahead without presenter or pundits after Lineker backlash
Fans joke ‘no one left to present Match of the Day’ after pundits follow Lineker out
- Gary Lineker
- BBC
- Premier League
- Breaking News
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