Gary Lineker will not present the match of the day, but the excluded host will return to BBC football coverage on Saturday

Gary Lineker will not return to the chair of the hosts of the match of the day on Saturday.

However, the English legend and broadcaster will return to BBC screens this weekend for the first time since his dispute over impartiality, to present live coverage of the FA Cup.

The 62-year-old will make his first TV appearance since being told to step back from his role as MoTD presenter to host the FA Cup quarter-final between Man City and Burnley.

Lineker will be back in the studio alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards – who both declined to work last weekend out of “solidarity” with their colleague.

However, he will not be back in his usual seat for the match of the day, with Mark Chapman scheduled to host the highlights show on Saturday evening.

MoTD will have a returning presenter and pundits this weekend after last week’s stripped-down show – Saturday’s show was just 20 minutes long, while Sunday’s show was even shorter at 15 minutes – due to the BBC talent pool that crossed the Lineker line.

There were no game intro packages, studio analysis, or even commentary, as highlights were played simply with stadium noise playing in the background.

The former Leicester, Tottenham, Barcelona and England striker – who presented the match of the day for more than 20 years – was taken off the air last week for a tweet comparing the language used to launch a new government claimant policy. asylum with 1930s Germany.

He was later reinstated after a huge backlash, with BBC director-general Tim Davie mending things with Lineker and issuing an apology, before issuing a statement explaining that the company has commissioned an independent review of its media guidelines social, especially for freelancers.

Mr Davie apologized for what he acknowledged was ‘a difficult time for staff, contributors, presenters and above all our audiences’ and described the BBC’s commitment to freedom of expression and impartiality as a “difficult balancing act”.

He added: “The potential confusion caused by the gray areas of the BBC social media guidelines which were introduced in 2020 is recognised. I want to fix the problems and get our sports content back on the air.

After the BBC’s official statement was released, Lineker tweeted that he was “delighted” to have navigated the row after “a surreal few days”.

He added: “I have presented sport on the BBC for almost three decades and I am immensely proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I can’t wait to get back in the MoTD chair on Saturday.