The change arose after long-time MOTD commentator - and 1986 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner Gary Lineker made Twitter commentary criticizing the current UK government’s refugee asylum policy. The BBC, in response, required Lineker to “step back” from his MOTD duties, citing the “controversy” around Lineker’s comments. This led to the entire hosting crew of MOTD- including Premier League all-time goal leader Alan Shearer indicating they also would step back from their MOTD duties, in solidarity with Lineker. As a result, during the weekend of 11/12 March, the BBC’s Premier League programming consisted only of match highlights, played without commentary.
The BBC was left in the unenviable position of having to potentially continue MOTD as a host-less program, until Richard Sharp - Chairman of the BBC received a fortuitous phone call from a fellow media executive. “{Fox Broadcasting Founder} Rupert Murdoch called me up the day after the Lineker controversy started,” said Sharp. “His first words to me were, ‘have I got the man for you!”
Lalas - a former US International who had an unsuccessful trial with Arsenal’s reserve squad will join the recently reinstated Lineker, Shearer, and the remainder of the MOTD hosting panel, to provide what Sharp characterized as “balance.”
“Alexi is the perfect person to add to Match of the Day,” stated Sharp. “We prepared for him a briefing book outlining the social and political positions he would be expressing, and he immediately committed to adhering to them. He will, however, continue to have free reign to antagonize viewers with his footballing opinions, just as he has in the US for the past fifteen years.”
Lalas welcomed the opportunity to reach a new audience, and said he was studying up in preparation for starting commenting duties in the week of 18/19 March.
“I have little experience with the Premier League, but soccer is soccer so i feel confident I will be able to have an opinion for any match that the BBC airs,” said Lalas
Questioned whether he was familiar enough with Britain and British culture to effectively engage with the BBC’s audience, Lalas also expressed confidence. “[UK Member of parliament] Jacob Rees-Mogg was kind enough to send me a copy of the collected speeches of Sir Oswald Mosley and Enoch Powell, which I have been studying intently. I feel now I am fully prepared to understand and relate to the audience that the BBC wishes to attract.”
