Why was ITV commentator Lee Dixon dropped by the BBC?

EURO 2020 ITV commentator Lee Dixon was a regular on Match of the Day 2, Score and Football Focus on the Beeb until his exit in 2012.

He started working as a pundit shortly after retiring as a professional in 2002, but was axed in 2012 by the BBC in a clear-out of pundits after complaints about their ‘experts’ and the fees they were being paid.

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Lee Dixon worked for the BBC for eight years until leaving in 2012Credit: PA:Empics Sport

Since retiring Dixon has worked as a pundit for the BBC, ITV, NBC and Amazon Prime’s coverage of the Premier League this past season.

Dixon was part of ITV’s coverage of the 2018 World Cup and will continue with the channel this summer, working as a co-commentator at Euro 2020 alongside commentators Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesley, Joe Speight, Seb Hutchinson and Tom Gayle.

Ally McCoist and John Hartson will co-commentate alongside Dixon, with Dixon to commentate on England games, McCoist on Scotland games and Hartson tasked with the Wales games.

Dixon is likely to be on commentary for ITV’s first live England game, the mouthwatering clash against the Auld Enemy Scotland at Wembley on June 18.

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Dixon is good friends with former Arsenal team-mate Ian Wright, who is also an ITV pundit for Euro 2020

Former right-back Dixon played a whopping 458 GAMES for Arsenal and is a two-time Premier League winner and three-time FA Cup winner with the Gunners, as well as winning the old First Division twice before it became the Premier League in 1992.

The 57-year-old won a total of FOURTEEN trophies at Arsenal, including a League Cup, five Super Cups and the European Cup Winner’s Cup to go with his Premier League and FA Cup triumphs.

The former Arsenal man made-up part of Arsenal’s formidable defence of the 1990’s, lining up next to Martin Keown and Tony Adams in the middle, Nigel Winterburn at left back and David Seaman in goal.

Dixon won the Premier League with Arsenal in 1998 and 2002, and the old First Division in 1989 and 1991

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Euro 2020 gets underway on June 11 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome as Turkey take on Italy in Group A, running for a month until the final at Wembley on July 11.

England’s first game is on June 13 against Croatia, the same team that sent Gareth Southgate’s side crashing out of the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup.

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Gareth Southgate named his 26-man England squad for Euro 2020 yesterday