Saturday saw both Glenn Hoddle fall ill and Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s helicopter crash.
Gary Lineker has said that Saturday night’s edition of Match of the Day was the hardest episode of the show that he has ever presented.
On Saturday evening, the helicopter of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed following taking off from the King Power Stadium.
Earlier in the day, former England international Glenn Hoddle was rushed to hospital after collapsing at the BT Sports studio.
Some things are bigger than football, and opening Match of the Day on a day like this was a difficult task – though one that host Gary Lineker handled with dignity.
“We would normally come on air and tell you about the games we can look forward to seeing in the show,” said the former Leicester striker at the beginning of the broadcast.
“This, though, is no ordinary Saturday.”
The host announced that everyone at Match of the Day sent their best wishes to Glenn Hoddle and his family.
Leicester’s 1-1 draw with West Ham was then the first game to be shown, despite Lineker previously tweeting a different running order.
He ended the show by saying that it had been a “dreadful day”.
Lineker then tweeted to say how hard the show was to host.
That was the most difficult @BBCMOTD I’ve ever hosted. Thoughts are with everyone at Leicester City. A terrible tragedy. Heartbreaking.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 27, 2018
“That was the most difficult @BBCMOTD I’ve ever hosted. Thoughts are with everyone at Leicester City. A terrible tragedy. Heartbreaking.”
Leicester-born Gary Lineker started his career at his hometown club, scoring 95 goals in 194 games for the Foxes.
The helicopter of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed at around 8.30pm on Saturday night, just after taking off from the King Power Stadium pitch.
Srivaddhanaprabha travels from the stadium via helicopter after each match he attends.
The BBC has reported that Srivaddhanaprabha was on board at the time. It is still not known how many other people were on the helicopter, nor any official details about casualties.
Earlier in the day, Glenn Hoddle was rushed to hospital after falling ill at the BT Sport studios. BT Sport then cancelled their afternoon results show.
A spokesperson later updated the situation saying Hoddle’s condition was “serious” but he was “receiving specialist treatment and responding well”.
