Jermaine Jenas has been sacked by the BBC and taken off air from Match of the Day and The One Show after complaints of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ but will battle to clear his name, reports say.
Jenas had previously been seen as the frontrunner to replace Gary Lineker as MOTD host, with the 63-year-old’s contract due to expire next year.
According to the Daily Mail, however, Jenas has now been sacked by the BBC and taken off air from both Match of the Day and The One Show.
It’s claimed the Beeb immediately launched an internal investigation after concerns over his conduct were raised.
Jermaine Jenas has been sacked by the BBC and taken off air from Match of the Day and The One Show after complaints of ‘inappropriate behaviour’
PA
He was then ‘quietly removed’ from the broadcaster’s official channels.
Jenas had featured on a giant mural at Manchester’s Media City HQ alongside Lineker, Alan Shearer and Alex Scott.
Yet this mural has now been removed in the wake of his dismissal.
Jenas covered the European Championships for the BBC earlier this summer and commentated on Spain’s win over France on July 9.
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He last appeared on The One Show alongside Alex Jones on July 22, with his last appearance on the Match of the Day panel coming on May 4.
A source has told The Sun: “This is a categorical nightmare for the BBC.
“A complaint was raised concerning Jermaine’s behaviour.
“After some immediate routine enquiries the decision was taken to take him off air, and terminate his contract.
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“The BBC’s new Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski has been heavily involved in this whole process, and is adamant that his new house is firmly in order, and there are no skeletons.
“At present, the feeling is he won’t be back on the BBC.”
The report says Jenas has parted ways with his long-term agents, MC Saatchi, following the crisis.
But the former Tottenham and Newcastle star is eager to clear his name and is ‘not happy’ with the BBC’s decision.
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Jermaine Jenas has also been removed from The One Show after having his contract torn up by the BBC
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Jenas also works for TNT Sports and commentated on Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Ipswich on Saturday.
It is currently unclear if TNT are aware of his situation at the BBC.
The BBC have suffered a huge blow following the departure of Jenas, who had been considered the frontrunner to take over from Lineker as Match of the Day presenter.
Speaking in 2021, he said he’d jump at the chance to present the popular football highlights show.
Jermaine Jenas is ‘not happy’ with the BBC’s decision to sack him
PA
“Match Of The Day is the biggest job on television, and if I ever got the opportunity of course I’d say yes,” he said.
“When Gary decides to call it a day, I’m sure the BBC will have a look around and decide who’s the best fit for the job.”