Gary Lineker tweet broke impartiality rules, says BBC complaints unit

Gary Lineker broke BBC impartiality rules successful a tweet astir the authorities successful February, the corp has ruled.

The Match of the Day big quoted a station astir then-Foreign Secretary Liz Truss urging Premier League teams to boycott the Champions League last successful Russia.

He added: "And her enactment volition manus backmost their donations from Russian donors?"

The BBC's Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) has upheld a ailment and said Lineker's station "did not conscionable the BBC's editorial standards connected impartiality".

The ruling has been discussed with the erstwhile footballer and BBC Sport managers, they said. Lineker has declined to comment.

The ECU said Lineker was "one of the BBC's highest illustration stars" and, though not progressive successful journalism, does person an "additional responsibility" to adhere to the editorial guidelines.