Has Gary Lineker Left BBC? Why Was He Suspended?
by Alaguvelan M | Updated May 29, 2023
Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker OBE, born on November 30, 1960, is an English sports broadcaster and former professional footballer. He holds the unique distinction of being the top goalscorer in England for three different clubs: Leicester City, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur. Lineker also had a successful stint at Barcelona in Spain and earned 80 caps while playing for the England national team. As of 1999, Lineker has been the host of the BBC's renowned football show, Match of the Day.
Born in Leicester, England, Lineker began his football career with Leicester City in 1978. He impressed in his debut season, scoring 10 goals and earning the title of the club's Young Player of the Year. In 1980, he made a move to Everton for a British record fee of £1 million. Lineker continued his goal-scoring prowess at Everton, netting 42 goals in his first season and helping the club secure the FA Cup.
In 1986, Lineker transferred to Barcelona for £2.8 million. Despite his impressive goal tally of 24 in his debut season, the team failed to secure any major trophies during his time there. Lineker returned to England in 1989, joining Tottenham Hotspur for £2.5 million. He continued his prolific scoring form, notching 30 goals in his first season and playing a key role in Tottenham's FA Cup and League Cup victories.
Lineker retired from professional football in 1994 and transitioned into a career as a football pundit and presenter. Apart from hosting Match of the Day since 1999, he has also presented other BBC programs, including Sports Personality of the Year and The One Show.
Lineker is highly regarded in British football and is known for his dry wit and outspoken views on the game. He is a vocal advocate for social justice, actively supporting causes such as animal welfare and climate change.
In recognition of his contributions to football, Lineker was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 2005. He was further honored with inductions into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2003 and the National Football Museum Hall of Fame in 2007.
Has Gary Lineker Left BBC?
No, Gary Lineker has not departed from the BBC. Presently, he serves as the presenter of Match of the Day, the esteemed football highlights program of the BBC. With his tenure commencing in 1999, Lineker has become a beloved and respected figure on the channel.
In March 2023, Lineker faced a week-long suspension from his on-air duties after expressing criticism of the government's asylum policy on social media. The BBC deemed this as a violation of their guidelines on impartiality. However, Lineker was subsequently reinstated following an independent review that concluded he had not violated any regulations.
Lineker has expressed contentment with his position at the BBC and has no intentions of leaving. He has also affirmed his dedication to presenting Match of the Day for as long as possible. On March 8, 2023, Lineker tweeted: "This government's cruel asylum policy is not only inhumane, it is also illegal. The UN Refugee Convention prohibits the collective expulsion of refugees. The UK is in breach of its obligations under international law."
The BBC contended that Lineker's tweet lacked impartiality, leading to their decision to temporarily remove him from the airwaves to preserve the impartiality of Match of the Day. Lineker responded by expressing his disappointment with the BBC's decision, asserting that he believed he was justified in expressing his views.
Subsequently, an independent review was conducted and determined that Lineker had not violated any rules. The review characterized Lineker's tweet as a "personal opinion" that did not compromise the impartiality of Match of the Day.
Why Was Gary Lineker Suspended From BBC?
In March 2023, Gary Lineker faced a one-week suspension from the BBC following his social media criticism of the government's asylum policy. The BBC cited a breach of its impartiality guidelines as the reason for the suspension. However, Lineker was subsequently reinstated after an independent review determined that he had not violated any rules.
On March 8, 2023, Lineker tweeted: "This government's cruel asylum policy is not only inhumane, it is also illegal. The UN Refugee Convention prohibits the collective expulsion of refugees. The UK is in breach of its obligations under international law."
The BBC considered Lineker's tweet to lack impartiality, leading them to remove him from airtime to safeguard the impartiality of "Match of the Day." In response, Lineker expressed his disappointment with the BBC's decision and maintained that he believed he was justified in speaking out.
The subsequent independent review confirmed Lineker's adherence to the rules, classifying his tweet as a "personal opinion" that did not compromise the impartiality of "Match of the Day."
Following the review, Lineker was reinstated and has since continued as the presenter of "Match of the Day."
The BBC's decision to suspend Lineker garnered widespread criticism, with many accusing the corporation of censorship. The incident also sparked discussions regarding the BBC's impartiality guidelines and whether they impose excessive restrictions.
Gary Lineker BBC What Happened?
Gary Lineker, the BBC's highest-paid presenter, was suspended for one week after criticizing the government's asylum policy on social media. The BBC claimed that Lineker's comments violated their impartiality guidelines. However, an independent review later determined that Lineker had not broken any rules, resulting in his reinstatement.
On March 8, 2023, Lineker tweeted: "This government's asylum policy is both cruel and illegal. The UN Refugee Convention prohibits the mass expulsion of refugees, and the UK is failing to fulfill its international obligations."
The BBC argued that Lineker's tweet lacked impartiality, leading to their decision to temporarily remove him from on-air duties to maintain the impartiality of "Match of the Day." Lineker expressed his disappointment with the BBC's decision, asserting that he believed his actions were justified.
After the independent review, it was concluded that Lineker's tweet represented a "personal opinion" and did not compromise the impartiality of "Match of the Day." Following the review, Lineker was reinstated and has since continued his role as the presenter of "Match of the Day."
Gary Lineker BBC Salary
Gary Lineker's salary at the BBC has been a topic of public discussion and scrutiny for several years. According to the BBC's annual report for 2021/2022, Lineker is the highest-paid BBC presenter, earning between £1.35 million and £1.35,999,999 in that fiscal year for his role as presenter of "Match of the Day" and coverage of events like Euro 2020. Lineker has also been reported to supplement his income with additional work, such as advertising campaigns and corporate speaking engagements. However, Lineker has also been vocal in his advocacy for charitable causes and is a founding member of the Fair Game campaign, which aims to improve governance and transparency in football.
It is worth noting that Gary Lineker's BBC salary has been the subject of controversy and public scrutiny in recent years, with some critics arguing that his pay is excessive considering his role as a sports presenter. Lineker has defended his salary, pointing out that he is a well-known and respected figure in the broadcasting industry and that his pay is reflective of his value to the BBC and the wider audience.
The BBC has also faced criticism over the issue of gender pay disparity, with some arguing that Lineker's salary is evidence of a systemic problem within the organization. The BBC has responded to these criticisms by pledging to close the gender pay gap by 2020 and increasing transparency around the salaries of its top earners
Has Gary Lineker Left BBC - FAQs
There is no indication that Gary Lineker has left the BBC.
Yes, Lineker was suspended from his role as presenter of "Match of the Day" in March 2023 following a controversial tweet he made about the UK government's asylum policy.
Yes, the BBC later reversed its decision and reinstated Lineker in his role as presenter of "Match of the Day."
Lineker's suspension was prompted by a controversial tweet he made about the UK government's asylum policy, which resulted in backlash and criticism.
According to the BBC's annual report for 2021/2022, Lineker is the highest-paid BBC presenter, earning between £1.35 million and £1.35,999,999 in that fiscal year for his role as presenter of "Match of the Day" and coverage of events like Euro 2020.