Mark Lawrenson, who had been part of the Saturday lunchtime show for 25 years and made his first appearance on Match of the Day even earlier, expressed discontent with his departure from the show. Nearly two years after leaving the BBC, the 66-year-old once again criticized the national broadcaster, suggesting that his age and race could have played a role in his exit. When asked if he believed the BBC had “gone woke,” Lawrenson replied affirmatively, stating that it is “top of the woke league.”

Gary Lineker, another figure associated with Match of the Day, was removed from an episode due to a breach of guidelines related to his social media activity. Lawrenson further expressed concern about the declining integrity of the corporation, attributing it to excessive “wokeness.” During an interview, Lawrenson also discussed the BBC’s restrictive approach, mentioning how contributors were often discouraged from expressing their opinions on air.

The conversation shed light on a perceived lack of freedom for individuals associated with the network, with Lawrenson suggesting that Gary Lineker, who works independently, should have the right to express his opinions, regardless of any potential controversy. The text also touched upon community engagement and promotional offers, providing an option to leave the community if one is dissatisfied with the content.