Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker is set to step back from his role on the football show after comments made over the government's new immigration bill. 

The 62-year-old shared his opinion on the bill on the afternoon of March 7, after the bill had been announced by the home sectary Suella Braverman.

The new bill will mean that "anyone who enters the UK illegally and who has passed through a safe country will be legally required to be removed and the Home Secretary will have the power to enforce it" according to the government website. 

What did Gary Lineker say?

Lineker commented on a Twitter video put out by the Home Secretary in which she unveiled government plans to stop migrant boats crossing the Channel.

In response, he wrote: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful,” 

Responding to the sports broadcaster, another Twitter user described his comment as “out of order”, adding that it was “easy to pontificate when it doesn’t affect you”.

Lineker responded: “There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.

“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I’m out of order?”

What was the response to Gary Lineker's comments?

Lineker's comments saw the former footballer receive quick criticism from many Tory politicians, who urged the BBC to take action.

As one Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith said: "It is not just insulting to this nation and the generosity of Brits, but also grossly offensive to the victims of one of the most evil regimes in history, which we also fought against and took many refugees from. Lineker is out of order and needs to get out of his metropolitan bubble and learn some perspective."

Following the former footballer's comments, the BBC told The Daily Telegraph: “Gary will be spoken to and reminded of his responsibilities on social media.”

A spokesman for the corporation added: “The BBC has social media guidance, which is published.

“Individuals who work for us are aware of their responsibilities relating to social media. We have appropriate internal processes in place if required.”