The Secretary for the National Union of Journalists in Ireland says the BBC is in danger of seriously damaging its reputation.

The criticism comes in response to the broadcaster's controversial decision to remove Gary Lineker as host of Match of the Day due to a row over impartiality.

In a tweet that is now deleted, the BBC’s highest-paid presenter called the UK’s new asylum seekers policy “immeasurably cruel” and compared the language the British Government used to set it out to "that used by Germany in the 30s".

A number of BBC football shows across TV and radio have been taken off air after presenters pulled out in "solidarity" with Mr Lineker.

Seamus Dooley of the NUJ believes the BBC may regret their decision.

"What is encouraging is the fact that so many people have stood by Lineker and I think that if I were in the BBC's shoes I would be worried", he said.

"That's not acceptable and I believe the BBC will do serious damage to the global reputation of a once great organisation."

Support for Lineker

Among the journalists who came out in support of Mr Lineker is Alan Rusbridger.

The former Editor of the Guardian argued that, as Mr Lineker is a sports commentator, sharing his political views is not inappropriate and wouldn't compromise the BBC's impartiality.

The guidelines for BBC journalists state: "Where individuals identify themselves as being linked with the BBC, or are programme makers, editorial staff, reporters or presenters primarily associated with the BBC, their public expressions of opinion have the potential to compromise the BBC’s impartiality and to damage its reputation."

"The risk is greater where the public expressions of opinion overlap with the area of the individual’s work."

"The risk is lower where an individual is expressing views publicly on an unrelated area, for example, a sports or science presenter expressing views on politics or the arts."

Due impartiality from BBC journalists is important. But @GaryLineker is employed for his knowledge of football. Prue Leith, employed for her expertise in food, supported Brexit. So what? Ridiculous for BBC News bulletins to be leading on this

— alan rusbridger (@arusbridger) March 8, 2023

Andy Bell, a former investigative journalist who worked in the BBC's Editorial Complaints Unit for a decade shared his analysis of the controversy.

"The question is not whether Lineker, as a BBC employee (some of the time at least) is entitled to express such a view but whether, if he does, there is any real risk that the BBC's own impartiality might be compromised", he said.

"In other words, might the view he expresses be taken to be the view of the BBC."

"Even the guidelines concede that in these particular circumstances the risk is low.

So, the question is not whether Lineker, as a BBC employee (some of the time at least) is entitled to express such a view but whether, if he does, there is any real risk that the BBC's own impartiality might be compromised. In other words, might the view he expresses be taken

— Andy Bell (@andybell2000) March 10, 2023

Free speech

Britain's Labour party also believes that the BBC were wrong to suspend Gary Lineker over his personal political views.

Shadow Schools Minister Stephen Morgan says removing him is an attack on free speech.

"I love the BBC and I know the British public love the BBC, but I think they need to rethink this decision", he said.

"Gary Lineker is a great British institution in my opinion ... I think they've got this wrong and I think they are pandering to the conservatives here and that's not right."