Gary Lineker calls Saturday’s Match of the Day ‘the most difficult he’s ever hosted’

Saturday saw both Glenn Hoddle fall ill and the helicopter crash at Leicester City's King Power Stadium

Gary Lineker has said that Saturday night’s edition of Match of the Day was the hardest episode of the show he has ever had to present.

On Saturday evening, the helicopter of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed in a car park next to the King Power Stadium.

Earlier in the day, former England international Glenn Hoddle was rushed to hospital after collapsing at the BT Sports studio.

Some things are bigger than football, and opening Match of the Day on a day like this was a difficult task - one that host Gary Lineker handled with dignity.

"We would normally come on air and tell you about the games we can look forward to seeing in the show," said the former Leicester striker. "This though is no ordinary Saturday."

He announced that everyone at Match of the Day sent their best wishes to Glenn Hoddle and his family. Leicester's 1-1 draw with West Ham was then the first game to be shown, despite Lineker previously tweeting a different running order.

He ended the show by saying it had been a "dreadful day".

Lineker then tweeted to say how hard the show was to host.

https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1056319810949267457

"That was the most difficult @BBCMOTD I’ve ever hosted. Thoughts are with everyone at Leicester City. A terrible tragedy. Heartbreaking."

Leicester-born Lineker started his career at his hometown club, scoring 95 goals in 194 games for the Foxes. The helicopter of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed at around 8.30pm on Saturday night, just after taking off from the King Power Stadium pitch. Srivaddhanaprabha travels from the stadium via helicopter after each match he attends. The BBC has reported that Srivaddhanaprabha was on board at the time. It is still not known how many other people were on the helicopter, or any details about casualties. Earlier in the day, Glenn Hoddle was rushed to hospital after falling ill at the BT Sports studios. BT Sport then cancelled their afternoon results show. A spokesperson later updated the situation saying Hoddle's condition was "serious" but he was "receiving specialist treatment and responding well".