Gary Lineker has disregarded criticism from his Match of the Day predecessor Des Lynam who mentioned he ought to “get on with the soccer” and steer clear of controversial matters outdoors the sport.
Lineker, 62, needed to “step again” from presenting the BBC’s flagship soccer present earlier this yr till he and the company reached an “agreed and clear place” on his use of social media, the broadcaster mentioned.
His tweets have attracted controversy whereas he has been the BBC’s highest-paid on-air expertise for the sixth consecutive yr and the one star to earn greater than £1 million within the yr 2022/2023, in response to the company’s annual report.
Host of Match Of The Day Gary Lineker
(PA Wire)
Lynam, 80, advised BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting Home programme: “I like him as a chap, I like him as a broadcaster. However I feel there are some areas that he ought to keep out of.
“For instance, the final World Cup was in Qatar and he went very, very strongly in regards to the limitations of society in Qatar. And he’s proper, there are, however he’s not the individual to say it. Get on with the soccer”.
Lineker, a former Tottenham and Leicester striker, later commented: “Des is entitled to his opinion… as, in fact, am I.”
(PA)
His response got here in a tweet replying to a remark by Adil Ray, the creator and author of BBC1’s Citizen Khan present.
He wrote: “Love Des Lynam however simply heard a clip on Radio 4 this morning saying @GaryLineker ought to keep on with soccer. In 2013, Lynam, nonetheless an influential determine, got here out publicly as a supporter of Farage and UKIP.”
Lineker has tweeted broadly about refugees and immigration coverage the place he has voiced assist for a liberal method to frame controls, and he additionally expressed assist for a second EU referendum.
Throughout final yr’s Qatar World Cup he led criticism of International Secretary James Cleverly for suggesting LGBT+ followers be “respectful of the host nation”.
He posted in response to the cupboard minister’s feedback: “No matter you do, don’t do something homosexual. Is that the message?”
Lineker has been the face of Match Of The Day for greater than 20 years however his future on the BBC got here below the highlight in March amid questions on impartiality.
He was taken off air by the broadcaster after posting a tweet during which he mentioned the language utilized by the Authorities to advertise its asylum plans was not dissimilar to Thirties Germany.
Lineker missed one version of the Saturday night time present, earlier than returning to his presenting function after a boycott by high on-air expertise.
