Gary Lineker sends cheeky message to BBC with new Twitter profile picture
GARY Lineker has made a dig at the BBC with his cheeky new Twitter profile picture just days after a row over his tweets.
The former footballer appears to have fired a shot at the broadcaster as he poses up in front of a George Orwell quote outside the London headquarters.
The words, written next to a statue of the 1984 author, read: “If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
It comes as the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, on £1.35million a year, had been suspended from his Match of the Day presenting duties, following a tweet criticising Suella Braverman’s migrant boats plan.
Lineker took to Twitter to hit out at the Illegal Migration Bill, which bans people who arrive on small boats from settling in Britain.
He wrote: “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?”
Lineker’s words were considered in breach of the BBC’s strict impartiality rules which state that staff must avoid taking sides on political controversies and remain impartial.
In a statement, the BBC previously said it had “decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.”
Lineker’s co-hosts on Match of The Day, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer also stepped back from the show in support if their colleague.
Wright tweeted: “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity.”
Alan Shearer quickly followed suit and said: “I have informed the BBC that I won’t be appearing on MOTD tomorrow night.”
Alex Scott, Jermaine Jenas, Micah Richards and Mark Chapman also banded together in support of Lineker, meaning Match of the Day went ahead without a presenter, pundits or commentary on the broadcast.
It meant Match Of The Day ran for just 20 minutes on Saturday – without commentary or even the iconic theme tune.
Disruption caused by the sudden staff uprising also saw Football Focus, Final Score, the Fighting Talk podcast and 5Live’s 606 football phone in cancelled.
And Match Of The Day 2 ran for just 14 minutes, again with no commentary or presenters.
However, Lineker’s return was announced on Monday as he agreed to abide by existing guidelines and welcomed a new independent review into BBC stars’ use of social media.
But, it remains up in the air how strict any new regulations will be and how long the process will take.
Lineker said: “I am glad we have found a way forward. I support this review and look forward to getting back on air.”
The commentator also broke his Twitter silence to double-down on his remarks after what he branded a “surreal few days”.
He said: “I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost 3 decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world.
“I cannot wait to get back in the MOTD chair on Saturday.”
Under-fire BBC chief Tim Davie, previously said: “Everyone recognises this has been a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audiences. I apologise for this. The potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC’s social media guidance is recognised.
“The BBC has a commitment to impartiality and a commitment to freedom of expression. That is a difficult balancing act where people are subject to different contracts and on-air positions, and with different audience and social media profiles.”
The TV regulator’s CEO Melanie Dawes told MPs its rules around staff tweeting were too ambiguous.
Ms Dawes told the Commons Culture Committee it needed to establish “a level of trust about what they require of the people who work for them”.
She said: “This goes straight to the heart of the BBC’s wider reputation beyond their news and current affairs coverage.
“They need to look at the guidelines and see whether they’re still right.”