Football Focus and Final Score will NOT air on Saturday as they are shelved by bosses

Football Focus and Final Score will not air on Saturday as they are shelved by bosses amid a mass boycott in solidarity with Gary Lineker.

The presenter, 62, became embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany on Twitter.

Earlier on Friday the BBC announced that Lineker would take a break from presenting Match of the Day.

Regulars Ian Wright and Alan Shearer quickly stepped down from their punditry roles in support of Lineker, prompting mass walkouts from fellow pundits, commentators and even players. 

BBC football presenter Alex Scott then said she will not be presenting Football Focus on Saturday.

The former England international, who has hosted the show since May 2021, told the broadcaster last night that she would be suspending hosting duties in a show of solidarity with Lineker.

She tweeted: ‘I made a decision last night that even though I love my show and we have had an incredible week winning an SJA for football focus that it doesn’t feel right for me to go ahead with the show today.

‘Hopefully I will be back in the chair next week.’

Scott’s role was said to being handed over to Kelly Somers, a presenter and commentator for the broadcaster, in the interim.

But Somers later denied that via Twitter, saying: ‘Just to confirm I won’t be on BBC television today’.

It comes as the Premier League informed clubs that players and managers would be stood down from their post-match Match of the Day and BBC TV commitments during a chaotic Friday night.

Sportsmail understands, however, that – for the time being – the BBC’s Radio Five Live coverage will not be impacted – though there are now doubts over whether players and managers will complete any televised interviews for their Final Score show that airs at 4.30pm.

It emerged on Saturday morning that the BBC had informed the Premier League that the 12 clubs playing today would not receive requests for interviews amid the controversial Gary Lineker row.

PFA Spokesperson: ‘We have been informed that players involved in today’s games will not be asked to participate in interviews with Match of the Day. 

‘The PFA have been speaking to members who wanted to take a collective position and to be able to show their support for those who have chosen not to be part of tonight’s programme.

‘During those conversations we made clear that, as their union, we would support all members who might face consequences for choosing not to complete their broadcast commitments.

‘This is a common sense decision that ensures players won’t now be put in that position.’