[Brekkie]

The PFA (Professional Footballers Association) saying tonight they will back any player who refuses to engage with broadcast duties as a result of the BBC's action.

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Any freelancer has primary clients, and it is not unreasonable to by bound by employee-style agreements in favour of the interests of that primary client.

I doubt courts would have much issue with the principle, it would be more whether the precise wording in Lineker’s contract (and associated documents plus BBC guidance) actually restricted what he should say, if so how much, and did what he said cross that line. Something we can only speculate on now because we clearly haven’t seen his contract.

Anyway, if things get ugly I doubt we will end up with a court case - Lineker will probably just go to a rival broadcaster who would no-doubt offer him a decent package to sign up with them.

That's true but it's pretty clear that Lineker views that the contract does not prevent him criticising the government of the day and that the BBC have somewhat accepted that and want to update his contract to curtail his freedom of speech, then apply it retrospectively.

Any employment tribunal would laugh the BBC out of court - contracts and process are literally law when it comes to tribunals and unless the employer has followed it to the letter it is very unlikely the verdict would be found in their favour.