Britain’s BBC reinstated its highest-paid presenter Gary Lineker on Monday after a move to take the sports host off air over his criticism of the government sparked a near mutiny at the public broadcaster.

The corporation was forced to axe much of its sports coverage over the weekend after presenters, pundits and commentators refused to work in a show of solidarity with Lineker, who had criticised the government’s immigration policy.

The decision to suspendLineker led to accusations from staff, opposition politicians and commentators that the politically neutral BBC had bowed to pressure from the government, prompting Prime Minister RishiSunak to intervene to say he hoped the situation could be resolved soon.

The BBC said it would also review how freelancers such as Lineker, in areas outside news, can use social media.

“I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost three decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world,” Lineker said, before returning to the topic of immigration.

“A final thought: however difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn’t compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away.”

Lineker, the former England football captain who presents the country’s flagship football highlights programme, has previously hosted refugees in his home and co-founded a podcast production company whose shows include the popular ‘The Rest isPolitics’.

Tim Davie became BBC director-general in 2020 with apledge to uphold the corporation’s impartiality.

He said on Monday that the suspension of Lineker had been appropriate and that the presenter had agreed to stick to current editorial guidelines until a new policy is formed.

Lineker threw his weight behind Davie on Monday, saying that he had “an almost impossible job keeping everybody happy, particularly in the area of impartiality”.