Ian Wright has announced he will not be appearing on Match of the Day out of “solidarity” with Gary Lineker, who the BBC said will “step back” from presenting the show due to his use of social media.

Lineker has been involved in a row over impartiality after criticising the government’s asylum policy on small boats.

Wright was scheduled to be a pundit alongside Lineker but tweeted to say he will not be doing so after the BBC’s statement.

The former Arsenal and England striker said: “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity.”

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