Gary Lineker's impersonation of Arsene Wenger was not offensive, says Ofcom

Gary Lineker (GETTY IMAGES)

Watchdog Ofcom has dismissed complaints that TV host Gary Lineker's behaviour was racially offensive when he impersonated Arsene Wenger on Match Of The Day.

Lineker, 51, sparked anger when he mocked the Arsenal manager by waving his arms about and signing off a link with the words "If you don't like it Mr Wenger... au revoir."

Wenger had waved his arms in frustration over a free kick decision in a match with Stoke.

Ofcom received 19 complaints about the BBC1 show, broadcast in April, but decided that it did not warrant investigation.

A spokesman said: "We assessed the complaints and concluded that the episode did not raise substantive issues under the Broadcasting Code."

But the watchdog did criticise ITV1 for broadcasting a gory suicide scene in the film adaptation of Death On The Nile on a Saturday afternoon when children were watching.

Viewers saw the female character put a revolver to her head and shot herself, causing blood to ooze from her wound.

The watchdog said the scene had not been "appropriately limited" but it considered the matter resolved as the broadcaster had made additional edits so that the film was now suitable for daytime broadcast.

PA