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BBC staff unhappy over Gary Lineker’s criticism of Gareth Southgate
Exclusive: Staff irritated by attacks on England manager’s tactical ability and failure to clear the air as team have progressed
![Gary Lineker recording his The Rest is Football podcast](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/football/2024/07/12/TELEMMGLPICT000383285396_17207893401130_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqRSK8K3q8hqRxrsnOQEAT4LAgJtzReLb1xVEzumGn2d8.jpeg?imwidth=680)
BBC staff are unhappy about Gary Lineker’s outspoken criticisms of Gareth Southgate, particularly as the star presenter has not backed down following England’s historic run to a second successive European Championship final.
The former captain described England’s performance in their group game against Denmark as “s---” on his The Rest is Football podcast, but it was his sustained criticism of Southgate as a tactician that most irritated some of his BBC colleagues.
Southgate described himself as “oblivious” to Lineker’s comments, which he dismissed as “not important” in the aftermath of the furore last month, although he admitted to being hurt by some of the criticism and said “we all want to be loved” following England’s dramatic semi-final win over Netherlands on Wednesday.
Some FA staff and others close to Southgate are less sanguine, and it has been noted that there has been no attempt by Lineker to clear the air.
Staff left uncomfortable and embarrassed by furore
BBC staff who deal with Southgate on an almost daily basis have also been left feeling uncomfortable and embarrassed by the furore. While Lineker’s use of a four-letter expletive to describe England’s goalless draw with Denmark dominated the headlines it was his sustained evisceration of Southgate as a tactician that has had a lasting impact.
“You can think of all sorts of words and expletives if you like, but it was s---,” Lineker said. “Was it tactically inept? They’re just a little bit lost tactically. And that comes from the manager, I’m afraid. It really does. He’s got to get England playing higher up the pitch, as a unit. Because at the moment they’re not a unit. Are they not coached to play that?
“He’s an amazing leader, he’s a great communicator, he’s transformed the public’s opinion of the national team and the players. But, tactically, the first game [a 1-0 win against Serbia], and we’ve seen it in other tournaments as well.
“England kind of start OK and then get a goal and then everything changes, and it’s almost like the kind of tactics of, get a lead, hang onto it. And the game’s moved on from that.”
The FA has not restricted any of the BBC’s access to players or management, although it will be intriguing to discover if Lineker is permitted to interview Southgate in the aftermath of Sunday’s final. The rights holders’ interviews to preview the final that will be screened before kick-off will be conducted by Kelly Somers for the BBC and ITV’s Gabriel Clarke.
Resentment he does not have to comply with impartiality guidelines
Lineker doubled down on his criticisms in the aftermath of the Denmark row, blaming journalists for “not being brave enough to ask their own questions” in the next episode of The Rest is Football. A video of the post-Denmark podcast shows Lineker and Micah Richards with a glass of red wine each while the episode was being recorded, which has also caused embarrassment at the BBC.
As Telegraph Sport reported last month, Lineker’s earnings from The Rest is Football, which is owned by his production company Goalhanger Podcasts, are soaring. Lineker’s son Harry, who produces The Rest is Football, told the Telegraph that monthly downloads had increased by 62 per cent last month and several episodes have attracted more than 500,000 views on YouTube.
Lineker is a divisive figure at the BBC, with many members of staff appearing to resent the fact that the corporation’s highest-paid contributor does not have to comply with their impartiality guidelines. It was noticeable that while Match of the Day pundits including Richards, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright effectively went on strike out of solidarity with Lineker following his suspension last year, many of the BBC’s reporting and production staff continued to work.
Lineker’s long-term future at the BBC is uncertain, with Telegraph Sport revealing earlier this week that he will not present its new Champions League highlights programme next season. The 63-year-old’s existing £1.35 million-a-year contract expires next summer, but the BBC will require clarity long before then as it has secured a new four-year deal for Match of the Day until 2029.
The BBC declined to comment.