Alan Shearer is missing from this weekend's Match of the Day line-up as his reduced BBC schedule begins, but claims of a rift inside the corporation's sport department have been denied.
The Match of the Day pundit, a regular on the show for two decades, is said to have been planning to cut back on his commitments. While it is not unusual for Shearer to have a weekend off, the Daily Mail reported on an alleged rift between him and BBC director of sports Alex Jay-Kelski. However, Shearer has communicated that his relationship with the broadcaster is as strong as ever; he is simply prioritising his own schedule more.
Reduced appearances and denied rift
The 56-year-old is reportedly expected to appear on the show only once per month now, or potentially even less often. Micah Richards has also reportedly requested his involvement is reduced, though it is unclear whether that has been honoured.
Mirror Football approached the BBC for comment, and a spokesperson denied the Mail's claims: "The suggestion that Alan is reducing his Match of the Day appearances because of the director of sport is untrue."
Shearer himself also commented that he had been in discussions with the BBC to scale down his Match of the Day role "for some time." He added the decision is "purely so he can have some weekends back" and maintained he has "always had a positive relationship with everyone at the BBC."
This weekend's line-up and recent history
Shearer was present for the opening show of the season alongside host Mark Chapman and Manchester United great Wayne Rooney, meaning he has fulfilled his 'quota' for the time being. Instead, Kelly Cates will present this Saturday's Match of the Day with pundits Joe Hart and Ashley Williams. Gabby Logan will then chair Sunday's edition with Shay Given and Ellen White as her panel experts.
It has been one year since Gary Lineker bid farewell to Match of the Day, though he, Shearer and Richards still hold a working relationship via The Rest Is Football. The trio have enjoyed great success with the podcast, which has been picked up by Netflix for the new season after also covering the World Cup on the streaming service.
Shearer's career and ongoing speculation
Shearer, who remains the Premier League's top scorer of all time with 260 goals, retired from playing in 2006. He immediately moved into the world of media and joined the Match of the Day team, only breaking for a brief stint as Newcastle manager in 2009.
The Magpies icon may have been glad to miss Sunday's programme after his old side had mixed fortunes in their first game of the campaign. They were inches from beating Liverpool at St James' Park before Dominik Szoboszlai levelled from the penalty spot to draw 2-2 with the last kick of the game.
It remains up in the air when he will next be expected to appear on the Match of the Day panel. However, he is insistent any absence is not down to any alleged rift that may or may not be brewing within the broadcaster's sports sector. The Mail's report claimed Shearer was frustrated at not being informed by Jay-Kelski that MOTD had been nominated for a prize at the Sports Journalism awards, and it is purported he was particularly annoyed when the BBC Sport chief commented on his 'whining'.
