Gary Lineker today refused to apologise and used his reinstatement by the BBC to hammer home his views on migrants and suggested some of his critics were intolerant.
The footballer-turned-broadcaster, 62, was taken off air for a tweet comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany.
But after he was begged to return, his first assignment back on the BBC would be to present live coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley on Saturday, Mail Online reports.
Mr Lineker said today, “However difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away. It’s heartwarming to have seen the empathy towards their plight from so many of you.
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“We remain a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people. Thank you.”
The BBC director-general Tim Davie said in a statement the corporation would now commission an independent review of its social media guidelines, particularly for freelancers.
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Minutes after the official BBC statement was published, Lineker tweeted, “After a surreal few days, I’m delighted that we have navigated a way through this.
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