Gary Lineker shrugged off criticism from his Match of the Day predecessor Des Lynam, who said he needed to “get on with the football” and stay away from controversial issues outside of the game, reports Breaking News.
Lineker, 62, had to “step back” from presenting the BBC’s flagship football program earlier this year until he and the corporation reached an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media, the broadcaster said, reports Breaking News.
His tweets sparked controversy after he became the BBC’s highest-paid talent for the sixth consecutive year and the only celebrity to earn over £1m in 2022/2023, according to the corporation’s annual report.
“For example, the last World Cup was in Qatar and he went very, very strongly about the limitations of society in Qatar. And he’s right, there are, but he’s not the person to say it. Get on with the football,” reports Breaking News.
The former Tottenham and Leicester striker Lineker later commented, “Des is entitled to his opinion… as, of course, am I. Love Des Lynam but just heard a clip on Radio 4 this morning saying @GaryLineker should stick to football. In 2013, Lynam, still an influential figure, came out publicly as a supporter of Farage and UKIP,” reports Breaking News.
Lineker has been the face of Match of the Day for more than 20 years, but his future at the BBC was discussed in March amid questions about impartiality.
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