BBC pundit Ian Dennis abused by fans

Senior BBC football reporter Ian Dennis was abused on social media after saying live on air that he felt obliged to keep working amid the row over Gary Lineker.

Mr Dennis, who has worked for Radio 5 Live since 2002, admitted before his solo commentary at Leeds United on Saturday that he had 'found it very difficult'.

But he said he was 'a BBC staff member, I'm a radio commentator for BBC 5 Live and today, like every Saturday afternoon, we provide a service to you, the audience'.

However, Mr Dennis faced a backlash from some Twitter users as he was called a 'scab' in several tweets, with post one saying that he 'chose to betray his colleagues'.

Another anonymous user said: "Please do not try and come up with excuses, you simply are someone who is not loyal to your profession and just a scab."

Mr Dennis did though find support from fellow 5 Live reporter Vicki Sparks who tweeted: 'Enough. Ian is a brilliant broadcaster, a great friend, and he absolutely does not deserve the vitriol that has been levelled at him by some on here. End. Of.'

Mr Dennis then tweeted the following day, having turned off replies: 'As a BBC staff member and a radio commentator for BBC 5 Live thank you for the messages of support, you know who you are. @5liveSport will have details of future commentaries.'

Chris Sutton, who is a pundit for the BBC and columnist for Sportsmail, wrote in today's newspaper: 'Many football fans will have been really disappointed with the reduced coverage. The brilliant Ian Dennis, who went ahead with covering Leeds v Brighton on 5 Live on Saturday, summed it up best on air.

'He said he is a commentator and felt it was important to provide a service to the 5 Live audience. And that’s where I stand.'

Dennis, who is a BBC employee, covered Leeds United's match against Brighton for Radio 5 Live on Saturday.

Ahead of his commentary, he said: 'It's also a very difficult time for BBC Sport, and for those that work in the department. We all hope that that gets resolved.