Pat Nevin defends his decision to work for BBC 5 Live after Gary Lineker’s axing
Pat Nevin defends his decision to work for BBC 5 Live after Gary Lineker’s axing by claiming he could address the fallout on air… as co-commentator John Murray describes it as ‘an extremely difficult weekend for all of us’
- BBC 5 Live co-commentator Pat Nevin explains why he appeared on air today
- Former Scotland striker said he wanted to address the Gary Lineker situation
- Nevin was part of the coverage of the Newcastle vs Wolves Premier League clash
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Former Chelsea striker Nevin was introduced for the Newcastle v Wolves broadcast on BBC 5 Live by co-commentator John Murray, after what Murray called ‘an extremely difficult and challenging weekend for all of us.’
Nevin replied by revealing he had insisted he would only work today – with dozens of other BBC top talent not working in a boycott against the removal of Gary Lineker from Match of the Day – if he could address the situation on air.
‘Freedom of speech means you get to speak,’ said Nevin. ‘That’s why I went on Stephen Nolan last night, World Service this morning. I don’t engage in social media so this is the platform we have to start speaking on and get through this.
‘There’s a dichotomy between free speech for us and due impartiality of the BBC, we know that. It’s where you draw the lines, and that line’s been far too blurred for the staff and the public.
‘We need clarification, contracts must be clearer, it’s unfair on everyone – from Gary Lineker to every match reporter.
Pat Nevin worked for BBC Radio 5 today so he could address the Gary Lineker situation on air
Gary Lineker was asked to ‘step back’ from presenting Match of the Day on Friday evening
‘There must be a debate, there must be consultation, not just edicts from on high. ‘It’s madness that I can be asked to go on a BBC political programme, yet I’m not allowed to have an opinion outwith that. It doesn’t make sense.
Nevin, 59, admitted that he fears for the future of the BBC if they cannot resolve their stand-off with staff over what they can and cannot say while contracted to the corporation.
‘I happen to stand on roughly the same hill as Gary Lineker, but we have to understand that if we have stringent opinions and other alternative – and indeed opposite – opinions, they would have to be allowed,’ Nevin added.
‘That is not easy for an impartial organisation like the BBC to cope with. I’m going to talk about this for a long time to come, we’ve got to debate it – the future and direction of this organisation, possibly under threat institution, could depend on this.
‘It’s about getting on and getting it right from hereon in. I could go on, I won’t, we’ve got a game of football here to talk about.’
The fallout from Lineker’s removal saw BBC’s football coverage scaled back with no presenters, pundits or commentators
