Gary Lineker could triple £1.3m BBC pay as rival broadcasters queue up to sign him – as Match Of The Day future in doubt
GARY Lineker could TRIPLE his £1.3 million BBC pay packet as rival broadcasters queue up to poach the veteran presenter.
The BBC icon, 62, was suspended from presenting Match Of The Day amid an ongoing dispute with the BBC over his tweets.
But following outpouring of support he appears to have received job offers from two broadcasting titans.
BT Sport are interested in hiring the presenter as part of their planned summer revamp to become TNT Sports, according to the Daily Mail.
The broadcaster has been bought by Warner Brothers Discovery and they are reportedly planning to expand their football coverage.
They want the ex-England star to be the face of their new venture, which includes Premier League and Champions League coverage.
BT Sport have the rights for those competitions for two and four more years respectively and are believed to be in the market for EFL rights, currently held by Sky Sports.
Lineker previously worked for BT Sport between 2015-2021 and has presented Match Of The Day since 1999.
He decided to step down to watch his beloved Leicester City on their European journey in the Europa Conference League last season, with Brendan Rodgers’ side reaching the semi-final.
ITV are also allegedly interested in Mr Lineker – having chased his signature for years.
And sources speaking to The Mail on Sunday say he would “undoubtedly” be able to name his salary.
A source adds: “He is the host of the most watched football programme in Match of the Day so would bring an audience with him, and he also has a brand to take with him.”
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And Mr Lineker was at the King Power Stadium today to watch the Foxes in action against Chelsea following his Match of the Day axing.
It comes as the veteran broadcaster sparked a free speech row when he compared the Government’s plans to ban migrants arriving on small boats from settling in Britain with “1930’s Germany”.
The BBC said Mr Lineker’s criticism of the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill on Twitter was a “breach of our guidelines”.
The pundit was then forced to step back from presenting duties on the flagship football show – that he’s presented since 1999 – until a “clear position” on his social media use is agreed.
But his suspension sparked chaos as scores of Match of the Day co-hosts refused to appear in solidarity with the veteran presenter.
Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman and Micah Richards all refused to fill in amid the chaos.
The show’s commentary team are also standing down – meaning the show will go without presenters, pundits or commentators.
It means the show will be highlights only and will last just 20 minutes, reports the Daily Mail.
Now in another shocking twist, it’s been revealed that Football Focus is being pulled off the air.
The Sun revealed this morning that Alex Scott chose to not host the programme following the suspension storm.
TWITTER ROW
The free speech row was triggered when Mr Lineker responded to a video on Twitter of Home Secretary Suella Braverman as she presented the Government’s small boats plan.
The legislation will see migrants swiftly detained and removed to either their country of origin or a safe third state within 28 days.
Sharing the clip, Mr Lineker said: “Good heavens, this is beyond awful.”
Responding to another user who described him as “out of order”, he added: “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, and I’m out of order?”
In a statement earlier, the BBC outlined they had undergone “extensive discussions” with the ex-England star, 62, following the furore.
While the Beeb praised his sports coverage as “second to none” they said he should “keep well away from taking sides” on party political topics.
The statement added: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. “We have never said that Gary should be an opinion free zone…
“Or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.”
BEEB DOUBLE DOWN
But despite the chaos rocking the BBC to its core – it’s crisis-engulfed director general Tim Davie says he will “absolutely not” resign.
He told the BBC on Saturday: “I’m sorry audiences have been affected and they haven’t got the programming.”
And asked if he was sorry about the way he handled it, he said: “We made decisions and I made decisions based on a real passion about what the BBC is and it’s difficult.
“It’s this balance between free speech and impartiality.
“I honestly do not believe, despite a lot of the commentary, that this is about left or right – it’s about our ability.”
The crisis reached its peak late on Saturday when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waded into the row saying the presenter’s suspension is an issue for the BBC, not him.
Mr Sunak said the free speech row was “rightly a matter” for the BBC, not the Government.
He added that while he respected “not everyone will always agree” with Government policies, he praised Mr Lineker for being a “great footballer and talented presenter”.
It came as an ad of talkSport’s Alan Brazil appeared outside the crisis-ravaged headquarters of the BBC on Saturday.
The rival broadcaster told the BBC in a tongue-in-cheek stunt: “Here comes the super sub. Alan Brazil is ready to step in.”