Gary Lineker, 64, makes bold statement about BBC suspension as he claims ordeal was ‘blown out of proportion’
Gary Lineker, 64, has made a bold statement about his BBC suspension and claimed the situation was “blown out of proportion”.
The former footballer made the remarks while speaking on a new episode of the Assembly, an ITV series where celebrities are quizzed by a group of people with neurodivergent conditions or learning disabilities.
Two years ago, Lineker was briefly taken off air from Match of the Day after a tweet criticising the UK government’s immigration policy was deemed to have breached the BBC’s impartiality guidelines.
Reflecting on the fallout, Lineker said the response had been “completely blown out of proportion” and described the episode as “very frustrating.”
“It was a crazy week and it upset me,” he said. “I had all the press outside my house every minute of the day, for about five/six days. It got a bit silly but it was actually also lovely because the backing I got from the people I work with was beautiful.”
Following his suspension, fellow pundits Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards all refused to appear on the programme in a show of solidarity.
Days later, the dispute was resolved, with Lineker reinstated and BBC Director General Tim Davie issuing a formal statement.
Davie said: “Impartiality is important to the BBC. It is also important to the public. The BBC has a commitment to impartiality in its Charter and a commitment to freedom of expression.
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“That is a difficult balancing act to get right where people are subject to different contracts and on air positions, and with different audience and social media profiles.”
Since the incident, Lineker decided he would step down from the programme at the end of the season, however will still present next year’s BBC coverage of the FA cup and World Cup.
Speaking on the podcast The Rest Is Football, Lineker explained he had been thinking of his next steps for a while, and that “all things have to come to an end”.
“I’ve done Match of the Day for 25 years and it’s been an absolute joy and a privilege to present such an iconic show for the BBC, but all things have to come to an end,” he stated.
The former footballer added that while he would miss his fellow podcasters Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, it felt like the right time to leave.
“It came at point, really, where the BBC and Match of the Day got the rights for another three years. The cycle starts from next season, so it felt like if I just do one more year it would have been a bit weird,” he said.
“So I think to get a different presenter in place would be probably wise, not just for me, but certainly for the BBC as well.”
He joked that they had “not quite got rid of me just yet”, confirming he would be there for the FA Cup.
Lineker admitted he suspects the BBC chose three replacements for him on Match of the Day due to the demanding nature of the job.
His role will be shared by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan.