Former England soccer captain Gary Lineker has been taken off air by the BBC after his comments on Britain's migration policy sparked a furious row between the government and the corporation's highest paid presenter.

Lineker was told there has to be an agreed position on his use of social media before he can return, the BBC said on Friday.

The row overshadowed a migration deal struck between British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron, with the BBC accused of bowing to political pressure.

"The focus on this is being used by the government, both to find someone to blame and also to distract from their own serious failures," said the opposition Labour Party's home affairs spokesperson Yvette Cooper.

On Tuesday, Britain announced details of a new law which would see migrants arriving in small boats across the Channel prevented from claiming asylum and deported either back to their homeland or to so-called safe third countries.

It drew criticism from opposition parties, charities and the U.N.'s refugee agency for its impact on genuine refugees.

(Reuters)

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