The BBC in Belfast have launched an internal investigation after the broadcaster's regional sports account liked tweets that appeared to criticise Gary Lineker.
The tweets in question, including posts from DUP MLA Edwin Poots and former Labour MP Kate Hoey, have since been un-liked.
The official BBC Sport NI Twitter account, which has close to 94,000 followers, ordinarily posts only sports content, along with retweets of the broadcaster's main sports account.
Match of the Day host Lineker was taken off air on Friday after comparing the language used by British government in relation to immigration as "not dissimilar to 1930s Germany".
The former Spurs and England striker's opinions breached BBC guidelines, prompting support support from colleagues and the public but also criticism.
Former Stormont agriculture minister Edwin Poots tweeted: "I seldom watch BBC, but will tune in for Match of The Day tonight.
"It used to be my favourite programme."
Baroness Hoey tweeted: "Gary Lineker is entitled to his views - he is not entitled to use his privileged position as a BBC commentator to preach when he is paid by the licence fee to comment on football.
"It is a publicly owned broadcaster. If he doesn’t like that he can go to a privately run TV station."
Both posts, which are seen as criticisms of Lineker, were liked by the BBC Sport NI Twitter account.
A statement from BBC NI said said: “This was done in error and is a serious mistake.
“It was remedied quickly and an investigation into what happened is now underway."
