LONDON—The BBC scrambled to stem an escalating crisis Saturday over its suspension of former soccer star and program host Gary Lineker for comments criticizing the British government’s new asylum policy.
As a growing number of Premier League players and presenters rallied to Lineker’s support, Britain’s national broadcaster was forced to rip up its radio and television sports schedule and face allegations of political bias and suppressing free speech, as well as praise from some Conservative politicians.
