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

'An opinion about human rights and that should be possible to say'

The Liverpool manager was asked about the broadcaster taking Lineker off air for criticising the government's new policy to stop migrants crossing the Channel.

Speaking after Liverpool's 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth, Klopp said he could not understand the BBC's decision, and suggested operating within the broadcaster's rules must be "a difficult world to live in".

"Everybody wants to be so concerned about doing things in the right manner, saying the right stuff. If you don't do that then you create a s***storm, it is a really difficult world to live in," he said.

Klopp continued: "If I understand it right, it is a message, an opinion about human rights and that should be possible to say.

"I'm not native but I cannot see why you would ask someone to step back for saying that. I'm not sure if it is a language issue or not but that is the world we are living in."

The BBC said Friday that Lineker would be “stepping back” from hosting Match of the Day until they found an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media. The 62-year-old sent a tweet critical of the government and has been embroiled in a row over impartiality ever since.

In response to a Home Office video – in which home secretary Suella Braverman shared plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel on small boats – Lineker wrote that the language used was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”. He later insisted he stood by the tweet, which led to the BBC taking him off air.

The controversy has had a domino effect with a raft of presenters, pundits and commentators standing down in solidarity with Lineker, forcing the BBC to cancel, or amend, a host of sports shows.

Related links:

BBC urged to explain why Gary Lineker is ‘restrained but Alan Sugar seems not to be’

Ian Wright says he will quit BBC if Gary Lineker isn’t reinstated

BBC Final Score and Football Focus cancelled after pundits and commentators refuse to appear

Premier League decide to boycott Match of the Day, report claims