Former presenter Mark Lawrenson’s explosive claims against BBC, read here
Mark Lawrenson #MarkLawrenson
Former Liverpool defender and football analyst Mark Lawrenson have slammed BBC for sacking him after three decades of association. Lawrenson has been a regular analyst for covering football matches, which saw him cover six FIFA World Cups.
In an interview with Sunday Times, Lawrenson slammed BBC and said that they were the worst in delivering bad news.
He claimed that the media was apathetic in informing him that he wouldn’t be a part of Football Focus, a show that Lawrenson was a part of for about 25 years. Lawrenson said that he would have appreciated it if BBC had informed him about the decision during the start of his previous annual contract.
The veteran British footballer, who claimed he was “anti-woke,” said he was sacked because he was 65 and a white male. He further added that he was never asked at BBC to refrain from saying anything and that the “woke things” were driving him crazy. He said that it felt like he was asked to play with his legs tied, and the first thing that came to his mouth could land him in trouble.
Lawrenson was not the only one to be axed by the broadcaster. Along with him, Mark Pougatch, Alan Green, and Cornelius Lysaght also left BBC, as the national broadcaster was looking to create a diverse panel of experts. However, Lawrenson remarked that BBC was afraid of upsetting anyone.
Regardless of Lawrenson’s comments, BBC has organized a farewell lunch for their former panelist, where he’d be allowed to invite 20 guests. The footballer has accepted the invite and said that he was looking forward to recalling his expert career that lasted over 30 years.
Lawrenson recently came in support of Alex Scott, his host from BBC, who replaced Dan Walker. While the former Reds defender found it difficult to strike a balance with the new host, he extended his support when the 39-year-old claimed that she had been subjected to racism and sexism.FAQ
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