Gary Lineker to MISS BBC coverage of FA Cup between Brighton and Grimsby after voice struggles

Gary Lineker will not host the BBC‘s live FA Cup coverage from Brighton on Sunday, after struggling with voice problems which deteriorated overnight.

Lineker was due to front the broadcaster’s live show featuring the clash between Brighton and Grimsby on Sunday afternoon.

However, he was noticeably struggling with his voice during Saturday’s match between Manchester City and Burnley, and has withdrawn from Sunday’s plans after his voice deteriorated overnight, according to the BBC.

The match will instead be hosted by BBC colleague Alex Scott.

Lineker missed last week’s Match of the Day after falling out with the corporation amid a row about language the former England footballer used in a tweet regarding government policy.

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Gary Lineker will no longer host Sunday’s FA Cup tie on the BBC after his voice deteriorated

Viewers might have noticed Lineker’s struggles as he hosted the Man City game on Saturday 

The BBC confirmed on Monday that Lineker would return to screens this weekend, and the 62-year-old later joked he had a ‘quiet week’ because of the controversy, which became front-page news around the world.

Lineker was central to the BBC’s coverage of Manchester City’s thumping win over Championship side Burnley on Saturday evening, and along with fellow pundit Alan Shearer, they apologised for the disruption caused by last week’s fallout, which saw highlights packages without presenters, and repeats on radio broadcasts.

But viewers on Saturday evening may have noticed the Leicester man struggling with his voice at times during the live transmission from the Etihad Stadium, and the BBC said that his voice had deteriorated in the night.

Alex Scott will step in to present BBC’s coverage of Brighton against Grimsby on Sunday

So instead of being part of the coverage of Sunday’s FA Cup tie between Premier League Brighton and League Two Grimsby Town at the AmEx Stadium, Lineker will be replaced by Alex Scott.

Scott, Shearer and Ian Wright were among those who did not appear on BBC’s televised programming last weekend, in support of Lineker.

While Lineker did not present the Match of the Day Premier League highlights show on Saturday night, the format returned to one fans have been used to seeing, after the truncated 20 minute package formulated last weekend without analysis or commentary. 

The winner of the Brighton and Grimsby match will join Manchester City in the semi-finals at Wembley next month, alongside the victors of the other two quarter-finals on Sunday, which are both being shown by ITV.