Gary Lineker has been presenter of Match of the Day for 26 years, however he was compelled to overlook one present in high-profile circumstances in 2023.
Again then, he was briefly suspended for tweeting that the federal government’s coverage on asylum seekers was “immeasurably merciless, directed on the most weak folks, in language that’s not dissimilar to that utilized by Germany within the ’30s”.
Lineker has himself welcomed two refugees into his dwelling for intervals in recent times, however the tweet prompted a livid response from Conservatives and the BBC requested him to abide by their political impartiality tips earlier than he was allowed to return to Match of the Day .
Gary Lineker displays on BBC suspension
Gary Lineker shot for FourFourTwo, March 2025 (Picture credit score: Nick Eagle)
The BBC additionally promised to carry an unbiased evaluate into their very own social media tips following Lineker’s return, with some believing {that a} sports activities presenter shouldn’t be certain by the identical guidelines as a political reporter.
Talking solely to FourFourTwo , Lineker was requested how he felt throughout his hiatus. “I used to be all proper, as a result of I wasn’t involved that I’d completed something fallacious,” he explains. “I simply said a reality – it was solely a reply to somebody who was having a pop at me, and I wasn’t impolite.
Gary Lineker will step down from Match of the Day on the finish of the season (Picture credit score: BBC)
“I simply thought it was extraordinary – it was utterly taken out of proportion. I feel folks have recognised now that they misinterpret the state of affairs somewhat bit.”
Lineker’s tweet was primarily advocating kindness to all human beings, wherever they have been from.
“That was it, however that’s not essentially seen as factor by some,” he says, in slight exasperation at these on the earth who oppose such views. “It’s bonkers.”
For the one Match of the Day that was aired with out Lineker, Ian Wright pulled out in solidarity together with his good friend, adopted by Alan Shearer and Micah Richards , commentators and a flurry of different employees, forcing the BBC to supply a stripped-down present.
Lineker presents alongside Shearer, Richards and Danny Murphy (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
“It was extremely transferring what folks did: Ian first, then Alan and Micah, then the commentators and the reporters,” says Lineker.
“I believed, ‘My God’. I bought very emotional and teary about that, since you by no means actually know what folks round you assume, the folks you’re employed with day by day. That loyalty to me was transferring.”
Why the BBC is exclusive
Gary Lineker speaks to FFT (Picture credit score: Nick Eagle)
Lineker has all the time been massively proud to work for the BBC, telling FourFourTwo that he turned down overtures from Sky over time to stay on the company.
Working for the BBC does deliver additional scrutiny although. “It’s a problem at instances, however I don’t assume we sing the BBC’s praises sufficient,” he says. “We’re generally a bit terrified of what the newspapers may say, and we don’t have to be.
“The BBC is unbelievable at what it does – the standard of the dramas, the information, the sports activities protection, the comedies, radio, native radio, the World Service. It’s good worth for cash. I feel perhaps we let ourselves down a bit when it comes to cowering to the critics, since you’re by no means going to make them comfortable anyway.
“What you have to do is attempt to make the folks comfortable who really love the BBC, which is most individuals. Politically it’s a troublesome place to work, in some methods.”
