An ex-Brighton star has joined presenters and pundits withdrawing from football coverage following recent controversy around Gary Lineker sharing political views online.

Glenn Murray, who played for Albion until he retired in 2021, was due to be presenting the BBC's Football Focus and Final Score programmes alongside Alex Scott today. 

However, in light of other presenters withdrawing in solidarity with their colleague, Murray announced his decision to step back this morning. 

Writing on Twitter, Murray said: "I was meant to be up in Media City today but reflecting last night I felt it was the right thing to do to step away from Focus and Score today.

"Hoping normal service resumes next week."

Today's Football Focus and Final Score episodes have been axed at the last minute.

Alex Scott quit this lunchtime's show, along with fellow presenter Kelly Somers.

However, Saturday’s Match Of The Day will go ahead without a presenter, pundits and several regular commentators after Lineker was told to step back from hosting the BBC show.

Former England footballers and MOTD regulars including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright announced on Friday that they would be boycotting the show in solidarity with Lineker.

Several of the show’s commentators also said they would be stepping down from Saturday’s broadcast.

The BBC said the show would “focus on match action without studio presentation or punditry”, saying it understood the position of its presenters.

Lineker, 62, became embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany on Twitter.

The broadcaster said it had “decided” Lineker would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media had been reached.