BBC to air Match of the Day without presenters after Gary Lineker’s suspension

BBC commentators also refusing to appear after corporation takes its highest-paid presenter off air over impartiality concerns

Match of the Day will be broadcast without presenters, pundits or its usual commentators this weekend, after the main host, Gary Lineker, was suspended from the BBC for breaching impartiality guidelines after criticising the government's asylum policies.

In a dramatic and unexpected escalation of a crisis that has been brewing all week, the corporation took the decision to remove its highest-paid presenter from its flagship football show after he was criticised by Tory MPs and the rightwing media.