Gary Lineker swaps BBC furore for Leicester loss during rollercoaster Chelsea defeat

Gary Lineker did not enjoy his trip to the King Power on Saturday afternoon, as Leicester lost 3-1 to Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Lineker visited his old club less than 24 hours after he was forced to "step back" from his Match of the Day role for criticising the government. The BBC's decision has led to an internal crisis, with Lineker's colleagues staging a boycott in solidarity with the axed star.

Saturday afternoon's game was eventful, as goals from Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz and Mateo Kovacic secured the points for Graham Potter's side. It caps off a miserable 24 hours for Lineker, who was temporarily relieved from his duties on Friday evening.

Due to Lineker's Match of the Day role, he rarely gets the opportunity to watch Leicester in action on a Saturday afternoon. The former England international was spotted leaving his London home in the morning to see if his beloved Foxes could pull of a win.

Lineker was door-stepped as he made his way to his chauffeured car. "How do you think this has been handled?" asked one reporter, while another shouted, "Have you had any discussions with the BBC overnight?" He was even quizzed on his long-term future.

Lineker arrived at the King Power at around 2pm. He was greeted by fans and was waved at them - perhaps thanking them for their continued support - before making his way inside. The ex-striker sat alongside his son Tobias, who also travelled up from London.

Lineker would have been hoping for a fast start from the Foxes, but the opposite happened. Chilwell - a former Leicester player - needed just 11 minutes to open the scoring at the King Power. The suspended Match of the Day host was understandably gutted.

But there was a loud cheer from Lineker when Daka popped up in the 39th minute to make it 1-1. It seemed as if the score was going to remain that way for half-time - allowing Lineker to enjoy a nice refreshment and debrief with fellow supporters.

Yet Kai Havertz had other ideas. The Chelsea star found the net on the stroke of half-time to make it 2-1. Leicester struggled to find an equaliser during the second half and were punished when Kovacic stepped up 12 minutes from the end to secure the points.

There was just enough time for Wout Faes to receive a second yellow card and complete a frustrating afternoon for the Foxes. The result leaves Leicester in a perilous position. Brendan Rodgers' side are 16th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone.

Chelsea, meanwhile, remain in 10th - 11 points behind Tottenham in fourth with a game in hand. Yet they have now achieved three consecutive wins in all competitions under Potter, which will relieve some of the pressure on his shoulders.

Lineker, however, remains firmly under the cosh. The row started when the government announced their controversial Illegal Migration Bill on Tuesday, which was criticised by human rights groups. Lineker described the legislation as "beyond awful".

Lineker also questioned the language used by Conservative MPs towards refugees. The Tories want to detain migrants who enter the country via illegal routes without bail or judicial review before being deported and blocked from returning.

Lineker was praised by thousands of people for his stance, but right-wing political commentators called for him to be sacked by the BBC. The broadcaster responded by temporarily axing the host, which led to a revolt from the rest of their football stars.

Saturday night's edition of Match of the Day will feature no studio production and will last for just over 20 minutes. The BBC must now decide whether to reinstate Lineker - who is unlikely to back down - or continue to appease the Conservative government.