Match of the Day viewing figures increase by half a million with no host or pundits

MOTD recorded its highest viewing figures since November 5, 2022

Viewing figures were up to 2.58million from last Saturday's figure of 2.09million, according to BARB overnights.

It is the BBC programme's largest audience since November 5 2022, which 2.63million people watched Match Of The Day.

The broadcaster's flagship football show went ahead with no presenters after Gary Lineker was asked to step back from his role as host because of a tweet he published about the current government immigration policy.

The former England striker compared the policy to "Germany in the 30s," which the BBC believed breached impartiality guidelines.

After he refused to make an apologetic statement on the show regarding his comments, the BBC made the decision to leave him off the show.

Following the announcement, a slew of Match of the Day pundits and football journalists across the BBC pulled out of their duties on Saturday.

As a result, both Match of the Day and Football Focus didn’t air on Saturday, whilst football coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live was severely disrupted.

The disruption will carry on over into the BBC's football coverage today (March 12). The broadcaster is airing Chelsea's top of the table clash with Manchester United in the Women's Super League this lunchtime, and confirmed this would go ahead with a “much reduced” coverage.

Meanwhile, Match of the Day 2 will receive the same treatment as its Saturday night equivalent, and will featured nothing more than highlights of the day's four Premier League games, with no presenters or commentary.

Related links:

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Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hits out at BBC over Gary Lineker controversy

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