Gary Lineker's BBC Controversy: Impartiality and Social Media Backlash

Former soccer star and BBC host Gary Lineker sparked a major public spat over the UK public broadcaster's impartiality and the influence the government may or may not have on its operations. Lineker's tweet criticizing the government's new legislation aimed at cracking down on boats bringing migrants across the English Channel from France led to his suspension from the BBC's flagship soccer show, Match of the Day. The controversy exposed a bigger debate surrounding the BBC over how much influence the Conservative government is exerting on the nation’s public broadcaster. The BBC has now reinstated Lineker and announced an independent review into its social media rules.