More signs BBC staff are turning on Gary Lineker: MOTD host's colleagues are 'embarrassed' by his criticism of Gareth Southgate - weeks after star faced backlash from inside Beeb for wearing his own clothing range on TV
- LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: What moment changed the Euros for England?
- Gary Lineker questioned Southgate's tactics on his Rest is Football podcast
- Presenter branded England's performance against Denmark as 's***' last month
Gary Lineker's colleagues are reportedly 'embarrassed' by his criticism of England manager Gareth Southgate in yet another sign that BBC staff are turning on the Match of the Day host.
The latest flashpoint comes just weeks after the star faced backlash from inside the corporation for wearing his own clothing range on TV.
Mr Lineker was seen sporting a pale green T-shirt and sage jacket from his collection with Next while presenting coverage of the England vs Serbia game on Sunday night.
BBC guidelines state that presenters should not 'appear on-air wearing clothing or using products or services which they have agreed/been contracted to promote, advertise or endorse or in which they have a specific financial interest.'
And now staff at the broadcaster are unhappy with a string of harsh comments directed towards the England manager.
Gary Lineker pictured on his 'The Rest is Football' podcast. BBC staff were reportedly left 'unhappy and uncomfortable' by Lineker's criticisms of England manager Gareth Southgate
Lineker appeared to suggest Southgate was 'tactically inept' as he branded England's performance as 's***' against Denmark, but the Three Lions have since reached the Euros final
Ollie Watkins dramatically sent England into the final of the European Championship with a sensational strike on Wednesday
BBC staff were reportedly 'embarrassed' over Lineker drinking red wine as he recorded episodes of his podcast
Lineker generated headlines earlier in Euro 2024 after branding the team's performance in their 1-1 draw against Denmark as being 's***'.
The Three Lions have since booked their place in the Euro 2024 final, with Southgate's side facing Spain on Sunday in the Berlin showpiece.
The BBC star, who earns £1.35m-a-year from the corporation, made the comments on his 'The Rest is Football' podcast, which he hosts and is owned by Goalhanger, his production company.
A number of England's star players - including the likes of Harry Kane and Declan Rice - fired back at Lineker with his comments dominating the build-up to their final group stage match.
According to The Telegraph, BBC staff at Euro 2024 felt 'unhappy, uncomfortable and embarrassed' by Lineker's direct criticism of Southgate on his podcast.
'You can think of all sorts of words and expletives if you like, but it was s***,' Lineker said after the Denmark draw.
'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, 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 Telegraph reported that BBC staff were left 'embarrassed' after Lineker and pundit Micah Richards seen with glasses of red wine as they dissected the Denmark game on the podcast.
-
PODCAST: Have England been playing with fear as Southgate suggests?
-
LISTEN: Southgate only England manager to be criticised whilst winning
-
PODCAST: The REAL reason England through despite playing badly
-
PODCAST: 'Just ONE good performance' could change England's fortunes
-
PODCAST: Are the England team buying into Southgate's style of play?
Lineker's comments had dominated the build-up to England's final Euro 2024 group match
Watkins scored just minutes after coming on, prompting England's substitutes to flood onto the pitch
An emotional Gareth Southgate celebrates at the full-time whistle after leading England to another final
Lineker later poked fun at the furore over his comments during the final round of group stage matches, stating 'If Albania fail to win tonight, England are officially through to the last 16.
'Because even if they lose tomorrow they will go through as one of the best third-placed teams. I wish people would stop being so critical of them.'
Southgate had insisted that he was 'oblivious' to Lineker's remarks but admitted that he had 'the one word' that the BBC pundit uttered in his criticisms.
Lineker later claimed that journalists were 'not being brave enough to ask their own questions' at the tournament, after England captain Kane claimed pundits were using negative comments to 'promote their own channels' because they 'want the most views'.
The episode where the pundits defend themselves against Kane's accusations received over 540,000 views on YouTube, making it the fourth most viewed show on their channel.
Lineker's son, Harry, who produces the football podcast, revealed last month that the show's downloads had risen by 62 per cent since the start of the competition, while views on YouTube are up 83 per cent.
Last month, Lineker was alleged to have broken BBC guidelines by wearing his own range of Next menswear while live on-air during England's opening Euros game.
The broadcaster launched his clothing line with the high street retailer in 2023 and models for the range online.
Lineker pictured wearing the pale green T-shirt during the BBC's England v Serbia coverage that looks identical to a Next top he advertises on the clothing company's website
He is alleged to have broken BBC guidelines by appearing to wear his own range of Next menswear while live on-air during England's opening Euro's game. He is pictured modelling it here
Gary Lineker wearing his green shirt during the build-up to England's Euros opener
Alex Scott was given a telling off by the BBC after she promoted a clothes brand while on duty for the broadcaster during the World Cup in 2022
The green shirt and jacket combo in question is modelled by Mr Lineker on Next's online store, retailing at £16 and £55.
BBC rules stipulate that presenters should declare any deals or endorsements to promote clothing.
Mr Lineker was also in trouble with animal rights activists PETA over the collection, after modelling a mohair jacket, which the organisation said is 'made from the hair of abused goats'.
Previously, the Match of the Day Host got into hot water during the 2018 World Cup for promoting a TM Lewin Shirt on Instagram that he wore on-air after becoming the face of the clothing brand.
The BBC branded it a 'genuine mistake' after they acknowledged it breached company guidelines.
Mr Lineker told OK! Magazine: 'I've always got my own clothes and I've always dressed myself on television. There's no wardrobe budget at BBC Sport so we all dress ourselves.'
During the 2022 World Cup, fellow presenter Alex Scott was warned by the BBC that she could not promote fashion brands while working for the broadcaster.
Ms Scott, who was an ambassador for Reiss, flaunted the rules after posting a selfie on Instagram, wearing a suit from the brand while in the BBC studio in Qatar.
Lineker has just 12 months remaining on his £1.35m-a-year deal at the BBC.
The presenter has reportedly been snubbed from presenting the BBC's new Champions League highlights programme next season, bringing into question his future on Match of the Day.
The BBC signed a groundbreaking three-year deal back in 2022 to broadcast highlights of Europe's elite club competition from the start of the 2024-25 campaign, with 16 shows planned on Wednesday evenings from September to May.
Last month furious staff from the corporation claimed Linker had 'carte blanche' at the BBC and bosses are turning a blind eye to him.
The Next incident sparked fury from BBC staff, with insiders claiming Lineker can do whatever he wants. 'Staff are really resentful at how much he is protected,' a source told The Times.
'He literally has carte blanche. The BBC response is to turn a blind eye. They won't even say whether they will speak to him.'
Lineker has a year left on his BBC contract and will reportedly not present their Champions League highlights show next season
Gabby Logan is said to have been chosen to present the new BBC show in favour of Lineker
Gabby Logan has reportedly been picked instead been picked by BBC bosses.
There was already a lack of clarity over whether his contract would be extended after his suspension from Match of the Day last year, which led to several of his fellow pundits striking in solidarity, something that embarrassed leading BBC figures.
Lineker was reprimanded by the BBC in March 2023 after posting on social media that the Conservative government's language around asylum policy was 'not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s'.
These comments caused significant controversy and resulted in the BBC taking him off Match of the Day that week, with Alan Shearer and Ian Wright among those to strike in protest at the decision.
