Gary Lineker will "step back" from presenting Match Of The Day until he and the BBC have reached an "agreed and clear position" on his use of social media.
The presenter has been embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new UK Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany.
A BBC spokesperson said: "The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.
"The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match Of The Day until we've got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.
"When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none.
"We have never said that Gary should be an opinion-free zone, or that he can't have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies."
According to Channel 5, presenter Dan Walker messaged Gary Lineker asking: "What is happening. Are you stepping back?"
Lineker responded: "No, they've told me I have to step back."
The row was sparked by Lineker's response on Twitter to a UK Home Office video in which home secretary Suella Braverman unveiled plans to stop migrants crossing the English Channel on small boats.
The ex-England striker wrote: "There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries. This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the '30s."
Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I've told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity.
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) March 10, 2023
Following the BBC's announcement, multiple analysts said that they would be boycotting Match Of The Day this weekend, leading to the broadcaster announcing that Saturday's show will not have studio presentation or analysis.
A BBC spokesperson said: "Some of our pundits have said that they don’t wish to appear on the programme while we seek to resolve the situation with Gary.
"We understand their position and we have decided that the programme will focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry."
However, Match Of The Day commentator Steve Wilson said he and colleagues had also decided to step down from Saturday's broadcast of the show.
"As commentators on MOTD, we have decided to step down from tomorrow night’s broadcast," he wrote on Twitter.
"We are comforted that football fans who want to watch their teams should still be able to do so, as management can use World Feed commentary if they wish.
"However, in the circumstances, we do not feel it would be appropriate to take part in the programme."
The statement was also shared by his fellow Match Of The Day commentators Conor McNamara, Robyn Rowen and Steven Wyeth.
The decision by the BBC to stand Lineker down had prompted pundit and former Arsenal striker Wright to tweet that he would not be appearing on Saturday in "solidarity".
"Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity," he said.
Former footballer and pundit Shearer followed shortly after, tweeting: "I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night."
BBC presenter Jermaine Jenas, another Match of the Day pundit, later tweeted: "Been on air with the One Show. I wasn't down to be doing match of the day tomorrow, but if I was I would of said no and stood with my fellow pundits and @GaryLineker."
Micah Richards had earlier said on Twitter: "I was not due to be working on MOTD tomorrow, but if I was, I would find myself taking the same decision that @IanWright0 & @alanshearer have."
Former Arsenal and England player Alex Scott, who is another BBC pundit, also appeared to rule herself out of presenting the programme on Saturday, tweeting a Gif of US politician Bernie Sanders saying "Nah! Not me" with the caption: "FYI…".
Earlier, director-general at the BBC Tim Davie – who warned staff about their use of social media when he took on the role at the end of 2020 before guidelines on their use was updated – was asked by BBC News why Lineker had not been sacked.
He replied: "Well I think we always look to take proportionate action and that's what we’ve done."
Davie said he would not "add to" the corporation’s current statement on the matter, but that there had been "very constructive discussions".
Reacting to Shearer and Wright’s boycott, the BBC boss added: "I absolutely respect people’s right to make that decision, and BBC Sport have to look at the programme they will produce for the weekend as normal."
