Gary Lineker has announced that he will depart from his role as the presenter of Match of the Day following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, enhancing his public persona by addressing issues beyond football.
The ex-Tottenham and England forward has leveraged his prominence to advocate for those less privileged. Though this has drawn criticism from some, many others have found inspiration in Lineker’s views on a range of subjects.
We have compiled seven instances where Lineker acted as the voice for the public.
Brexit
As a former Barcelona player who is fluent in Spanish, it is no surprise that Lineker has consistently supported the UK remaining in the EU.
“Personally, I believe there are plenty of reasons to remain, but barely any to leave. Love Europe, love being part of Europe,” he stated in June 2016.
Since then, Lineker has been vocal about the considerable shortcomings linked to Brexit.
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew once responded to Lineker, criticizing him for his political commentary.
He tweeted: “Gary. You are the face of BBC Sport. Please observe BBC editorial guidelines and keep your political views, whatever they are and whatever the subject, to yourself. I’d be sacked if I followed your example. Thanks.”
Lineker fired back with a sharp retort: “Jonathan, I’m the face of my own Twitter account. I’ll continue to tweet what I like and if folks disagree with me, then so be it.”
Refugees
Lineker expressed his discontent when Conservative MP David Davies and parts of the media suggested dental tests to confirm the ages of child refugees.
“The treatment by some towards these young refugees is hideously racist and utterly heartless. What’s happening to our country?” he tweeted in October 2016.
Russia
The BBC later found that Lineker had violated its impartiality rules after he commented on Conservative Party donations from Russian sources.
This remark came in February 2022, in response to then-foreign secretary Liz Truss, who had asserted that English football teams should not participate in the Champions League final set for St Petersburg due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Lineker quote tweeted Truss, remarking: “And her party will hand back their donations from Russian donors?”
Sewage
Lineker faced backlash from a senior BBC news journalist who accused him of breaching impartiality for criticizing the government over sewage discharge into coastal waters.
“As a politician how could you ever, under any circumstances, bring yourself to vote for pumping sewage into our seas? Unfathomable!” Lineker tweeted in August 2022.
Neil Henderson, a BBC editor, later apologized to Lineker after instructing him, “The BBC lives or dies by its impartiality. If you can’t abide it, get off it.”
Qatar
Amid the controversies related to Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup, the BBC opted to forgo broadcasting the opening ceremony, allowing Lineker to discuss the critical issue of human rights abuses.
Before Qatar faced Ecuador, the 62-year-old remarked: “Ever since FIFA chose Qatar back in 2010, the smallest nation to have hosted football’s greatest competition has faced some big questions.
“From allegations of corruption in the bidding process to the treatment of migrant workers who built the stadiums, where many lost their lives.
“Homosexuality is illegal here [in Qatar]. Women’s rights and freedom of expression are in the spotlight.
“Also, the decision six years ago to switch the tournament from summer to winter. Against that backdrop, there’s a tournament to be played.
“One that will be watched and enjoyed around the world. Stick to football, said FIFA. Well we will, for a couple of minutes at least.”
Some later accused Lineker of ‘virtue-signalling’, while others recognized that it would have been impossible to commence the BBC’s coverage in any other way.
LGBTQ+
Lineker was among those who criticized Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, after he suggested that LGBTQ+ football fans should be “respectful” of Qatar’s laws during the World Cup.
“Whatever you do, don’t do anything gay. Is that the message?” Lineker questioned, quote-tweeting a journalist who covered Cleverly’s remarks in October 2022.
Small boats
In March 2023, Lineker condemned the government’s strategy aimed at halting migrants from crossing the channel in small boats.
“There is no huge influx,” Lineker stated on Twitter. “We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries. This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the ’30s.”
His comments received extensive media coverage and overshadowed the actual policy, resulting in a mutual agreement for him to step away from hosting Match of the Day, which led to a collective walk-out by pundits, commentators, and presenters.
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