Fury at BBC after they fail to punish Gary Lineker over migrant policy tweet as host says he isn’t scared of losing job

THE BBC faced fresh fury last night for refusing to give Gary Lineker the red card over his anti-Tory outburst.

Bosses said the Match of the Day presenter would not be sacked after he likened the Government’s migrant crackdown to Nazi Germany.

The star was given a dressing-down but will face no disciplinary action over his tweets.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman had said Lineker’s comments diminished the tragedy of the Holocaust.

He was accused of playing the BBC for fools yesterday by confirming on Twitter he would be hosting Match of the Day on Saturday as usual.

Apparently unrepentant, he tweeted: “Well, it’s been an interesting couple of days. Happy that this ridiculously out of proportion story seems to be abating and very much looking forward to presenting on Saturday.” 

A BBC source said: “We have spoken to Gary and he won’t face any disciplinary action.

“From our perspective the situation has been resolved now and we want him to get back to what he’s best at — being a brilliant sports presenter.”

 But last night another BBC insider said: “Matters are not resolved and it would be wrong to suggest so.”

 Speaking outside his home yesterday, defiant Lineker, 62, told reporters he was not afraid of being booted out of his job — and insisted that he stood by his comments.

BBC stars must abide by strict impartiality rules which cover what they say on social media.

The Corporation, headed by director-general Tim Davie, had warned that he would be “spoken to and reminded of his responsibilities”.

The news that the ex-England footballer faced no further action sparked fresh outrage among Tory MPs.

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt said: “The soft BBC response to this appalling breach of impartiality is shocking. It’s the worst example I can think of. This could be a day they come to regret.”

 Former minister Brendan Clarke-Smith added: “Whilst the elderly lost their free licence, the BBC have now given Gary Lineker a different sort of free licence. One that allows him to say what he wants, when he wants and without fear of sanction.”

 Meanwhile, John Sergeant, the BBC’s former chief political correspondent, told Times Radio he reckoned Lineker could be kicked out if he continued to be outspoken.

He said: “I would have thought that he is in deep trouble — comparing this government with the Third Reich is about as strong as you can get in political terms.

“If he continues in this way, he's out, I would have thought.”

Yesterday, the Beeb star got into a fresh spat with another Cabinet minister — after Penny Mordaunt accused Labour of “borrowing from Gary Lineker's playbook”.

The Commons leader said the opposition were a “party of goal-hangers” who are “poised to seize any opportunities and to take an easy shot”.

Lineker responded in a tweet: "Thank you for mentioning me in your clumsy analogy. I’m just happy to have been better in the 6 yard box than you are at the despatch box. Best wishes.”