'I've been silenced' - Why Gary Lineker isn't presenting Match of the Day tonight

The former England striker has been hosting the iconic BBC show since 1999. However, the ex-Tottenham and Leicester City star has revealed he has been "silenced" and won't host the show on Saturday night. Instead, Mark Chapman, who hosts MOTD2, will take his place for the show which airs on BBC One at 10.30pm. So, why is Lineker sitting this one out?

In 2023, Lineker was taken off air for breaching impartiality guidelines but was reinstated soon after following a backlash from many high-profile colleagues. He reportedly earned £1.3 million ($1.6m) from the BBC last year.

Tonight's show features highlights from seven Premier League games, including Manchester City's home clash against Everton, table-topping Liverpool's clash with Burnley, and Tottenham's fixture against Brighton.