The BBC is said to be considering a review of its guidelines on impartiality for freelance presenters, as there are ambiguities in Lineker’s contract that could prevent the network from enforcing its rules on political comments.
The network is expected to offer a compromise to Lineker in order to resolve the dispute and ensure he presents the FA Cup coverage this weekend.
While Lineker has not made any public statements about his future at the BBC, sources close to him have expressed confidence that the dispute will be resolved to his satisfaction within the next 24 hours.
The network has also indicated that it is working hard to resolve the situation and hopes to have Lineker back on air as soon as possible.
The dispute with Lineker has sparked protests outside the BBC in Salford, and there are concerns that the network’s Director General, Tim Davie, could face criticism for his handling of the affair.
However, he has emphasised the importance of impartiality and has apologised to viewers for the disruption caused by the dispute.
In the meantime, the network’s coverage of the FA Cup and other programmes has been severely curtailed, with presenters, pundits, and commentators refusing to appear in solidarity with Lineker.
However, the Women’s Super League match was broadcast as scheduled on BBC1, and the channel’s coverage of the Six Nations was not affected.
The dispute with Lineker is likely to continue until a resolution is reached, but both sides are said to be working towards a compromise that will allow Lineker to return to presenting duties.