Gary Lineker has opened up on his regrets over the explosive social media row last year that saw him temporarily taken off air by the BBC. In March 2023, the presenter took to his X platform to compare the language used by the UK government to launch a policy on small boat crossings to “that used by Germany in the 30s.”
He was duly stood down from that week’s showing of Match of the Day by the Beeb, which prompted pundits Alan Shearer and Ian Wright to announce they would be boycotting the programme until Lineker was reinstated.
A host of fellow BBC employees followed suit, and the Saturday night highlights show eventually aired in farcical circumstances, with no commentary or analysis, just footage of Premier League matches.
Speaking at the Hay Festival in Powys, where he was awarded a medal in recognition of his services to broadcast journalism, the 63-year-old pointed the figure at the Daily Mail, who he claims misrepresented his comments in a critical front page headline. “The one thing I do regret is that it was a fallout between me and the BBC and it should have been a fallout between the BBC and the Daily Mail,” he said.
“I think it is a great shame what happened, because it pretty much pitched me against the BBC, and I love the BBC. I don’t think we shout our corner enough, we get a little too defensive, particularly with worrying about what’s in the Daily Mail.
“They’ve got a raison d’etre and they wanted a story on the BBC. I think the BBC needs to not worry as much about the Daily Mail and worry about what the people who love the BBC care about.”
The BBC has since put new social media regulations in place for presenters, which prevents them from being critical of political parties. But Lineker argued he didn’t air his own views to harbour attention. “I don’t do it to try to influence at all, I do it so I can look myself in the mirror,” he added. “I think it’s important.”
The former England international was also outspoken about the 2022 World Cup being held in Qatar. His opening monologue when presenting the tournament criticised the country’s authorities for their human rights record and treatment of the LGBTQ+ community.
It led to many calls from critics and politicians for Lineker and co to ’stick to football’. But Lineker, whose illustrious playing career saw him play for the likes of Barcelona, Spurs, and Everton, said such comments were designed to silence people in sport if they held contrary views.
“It’s only a line of attack if they don’t agree with you,” he continued. “They’re perfectly happy with free speech as long as they agree.
“I detest division, the culture wars. Whatever side of politics you’re on, don’t drive people against each other. I just think we need a bit of kindness back, a bit of empathy, rather than attacking all the time.”
