Xuenou > Sports > Match of the Day’s iconic theme tune returns for first time since brutal Gary Lineker axe
Match of the Day’s iconic theme tune returns for first time since brutal Gary Lineker axe
Match of the Day's iconic theme tune returns for first time since brutal Gary Lineker axe,In the wake of Gary Lineker's stand-off with the BBC, the bizarre 'Premier League highlights' programme that was aired instead of Match of the Day did not include the show's iconic jingle

Match of the Day’s iconic theme tune returns for first time since brutal Gary Lineker axe

The Match of the Day theme tune has been used for the first time since's Gary Lineker's axing from hosting duties.

Not only were Lineker, the pundits and commentators missing from Saturday (March 11) night's highlights programme, but so too was the iconic opening before a shortened 20-minute long episode was aired.

Fans fumed at the disastrous broadcast, which was even referred to as 'Premier League highlights' instead of its usual title. But the MOTD theme could be heard once again before BBC's coverage of the Women's Super League this afternoon.

READ MORE: BBC still using Gary Lineker to advertise 20-minute Match of the Day despite axe

It made its return as Chelsea hosted Manchester United. But that was the only thing that came back, with no pre-match build-up preceding the game.

World feed commentator Nigel Adderley could be heard behind the mic with the Beeb commentators continuing their boycott in solidarity with Lineker.

The MOTD anchor remains in a stand-off with his bosses after refusing to apologise for a tweet in which he likened the language the Conservative Party uses to describe asylum seekers to "1930s Germany".

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Match of the Day Women's Super League title screen
(Image: BBC)

Lineker's jettisoning triggered an extraordinary reaction from the sports media world. Punditry pals such as Alan Shearer and Ian Wright distanced themselves from the show, before MOTD's commentary team also chose not to take part.

The solidarity also resulted in lunchtime show Football Focus and late afternoon results programme Final Score also being replaced by Bargain Hunt and the Repair Shop respectively, while Radio 5 Live's sports coverage was also pulled from the schedules.

BBC commentator Guy Mowbray also confirmed Match of the Day 2 will also be "much reduced" in comparison with normal in response to the situation.

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