Des Lynam says Gary Lineker should “keep playing football”. instead of getting into politics. Credit: Getty Images Europe
Des Lynam advised Gary Lineker to stick with football as he first criticized the Match of the Day host for his political use of social media.
Lineker, the BBC's highest paid star, was briefly forced to step down from his duties in March after drawing parallels between the government's flagship policy on illegal migrants and the language of Nazi Germany.
He returned to Match of the Day just over a week after he was taken off the air. He has since defended these remarks, continuing to share his personal views on Twitter.
On Sunday, Lineker accused Labor and the Conservatives of “giving up the future of our children in favor of votes” and “dereliction of duty” amid the Greek bushfires, and said both parties were considering winding down their environmental policies.
Forgoing our children's future for votes. Neglect of duty. https://t.co/HnKLXWrzFx
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker), 23 July 2023
Lynam, who presented Match of the Day between 1988 and 1999, was asked about the controversy in this week's BBC Radio 4 Broadcasting House.
Lineker was an expert on Match of the Day when Lynam performed, and subsequently replaced him. as the main football presenter of the corporation.
“I like him as a guy, I like him as a TV presenter,” Lynam said.
“But I think there are some areas where he should stay away. For example, the last World Cup was in Qatar, and he spoke very, very strongly about the limitations of society in Qatar.
“And he is right, they are, but he is not the person who says this. Keep playing football.”
Responding on his Twitter account, Lineker wrote:
Des has a right to his opinion…as do I, of course. https://t.co/gga82yQdzh
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker), July 23, 2023
The two broadcasters are good friends and were brought together by Telegraph Sport last year to reminisce about the 10 world championships they presented between them.
Lineker opened the BBC's coverage of last year's winter tournament with a monologue that criticized Qatar's leadership, citing the much-discussed rights of migrant workers, LGBT people and women in the host country.
The following month, he stated on a News Agents podcast that the United States, which will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, is “an extremely racist country.”
Last week, he used his Twitter feed to highlight his support for climate change campaign group Just Stop Oil and call for a private jet ban.
I think we will eventually need to rethink. We need to look for alternatives if we are still willing to look for them. Yes, I fly scheduled flights, never, under any circumstances, these days I will not fly private jets, but once again, we are all hypocrites and everything can be better. https://t.co/1TIcTZRdCQ
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 17, 2023
Lineker also retweeted a letter from Baroness Jones, a Green Party colleague, accusing Swella Braverman of “intimidation and wanton” behaviour.
The Home Secretary wrote to Sir Keir Starmer after reports that the Labor leader's team demanded a meeting with Just Stop Oil protesters, which Sir Keir denies.
Earlier this month, Lineker defended the disruption of Wimbledon and the Ashes by Just Stop Oil activists, whose antics led to a stoppage of play at both events.
I never said that. Stop making things up. I don't like any breaks in sports. Whether it's a demonstration or when it rains and the game stops, I feel for the athletes. However, I also don't like thinking about the terrible consequences of climate change and how it happens… https://t.co/VSLPJWVuVj
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker), 7 July 2023
Although Lynam has publicly expressed his political views in the past, he was no longer with the BBC at the time.
He declared his support for the UK Independence Party in the 2013 local elections, stating that he was “glad to vote for Nigel Farage's team”.
Lynam also rewrote Stephen Sondheim's “Send in the Clowns” in response to former Conservative Chancellor Lord Clark's description of Mr. Farage's supporters. om at the match of the day when Lynham played. The couple is pictured here with Ruud Gullit in 1996. Photo: Starstock/Photoshot
An independent review of the BBC's social media guidelines, which was launched in the wake of the Lineker scandal, is being conducted by John Hardy, former ITN chief executive and editor.
Tim Davy, BBC CEO, has apologized following the scandal. He said he acknowledged that “gray areas” in the broadcaster's social media guide could cause “confusion” and insisted that the broadcaster maintains its commitment to both impartiality and freedom of expression.
Lineker won a £4.9m tax battle with UK Revenue and Customs in March after a judge ruled in his favor and rejected a tax inspector's claim that he should be classified as a BBC employee and BT Sport, not a freelance presenter.
Figures released earlier in the month showed he continues to earn the highest salary of any employee in the corporation, earning £1.35 million a year, a figure unchanged from last year.
The BBC was contacted for comment.
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