Gary Lineker has claimed he was involved in writing the BBC social media guidelines that gave him “much more freedom” and that the national broadcaster “loves” his use of online platforms as it promotes Match of the Day.
The former England striker-turned-presenter argued that BBC audiences that accuse the corporation of bias are themselves biased. He said: “The bias is theirs.”
The BBC undertook a review of its social media guidelines after Mr Lineker tweeted last year about then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s small boats policy.
Following the review by former news executive John Hardie, the guidelines were revamped to allow hosts of “crown jewel” shows, including Match of the Day, to continue to take political stances publicly so long as they didn’t endorse or attack political parties or politicians.
Mr Lineker, who has presented Match of the Day for more than 20 years, told an event hosted by the Broadcasting Press Guild: “I know the guidelines really well. I was partly involved in drawing them up, in terms of having an interview with John.
“I don’t think I’m constrained. I think I tweet now like I’ve always tweeted. I know the guidelines inside out. Obviously, the new guidelines allow much more freedom. We’re allowed opinions.”
Talking about how he uses X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Mr Lineker said: “It’s a very useful platform for me. And it’s great, and the BBC love me [being] on there because I promote their shows.
“We’ve been given a lot more leeway now, which is a good thing. I’m always sensible.”
Despite claiming he is “allowed opinions”, Mr Lineker recently faced calls to be sacked after stepping into the debate around the Israel-Hamas war.
The former Leicester striker called for Israel to be banned from international football.
Mr Lineker reposted a statement by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, which demanded the country be prevented from taking to the pitch in international matches.
On X, the organisation wrote: “The Palestinian Football Association calls on @iocmedia, @FIFAcom and all regional and int’l sports bodies to take an urgent stance on Israel’s grave violations of human rights and subject it to legal accountability measures.”
Editor of the Jewish Chronicle, Jake Wallis Simons, blasted the BBC presenter over the reposting, saying: “Gary Lineker has retweeted a call for Israel to be barred from international football. Could this be the same Lineker who pocketed £1.6million from Qatar? And covered the World Cup there? Why, yes. Yes, it is.”
Express.co.uk has contacted the BBC for commment.
