Gary Lineker Reflects on BBC Controversies and His Online Presence
Gary Lineker, the former host of BBC’s Match Of The Day, remarked that if he wanted “a quiet and easy life I could have shut up” while reflecting on his experiences with the broadcaster following public reactions to his political commentary on social media. Lineker stepped down from his position in May last year amid backlash over posts that critics deemed controversial.
During a discussion at the Edinburgh TV Festival with Adam Hawkins, who oversees Netflix’s documentary series, Lineker spoke about using his public platform to “address things that upset me.” The 65-year-old emphasized that, although he does not frequently speak on political issues, the subject pervades his public discourse.
“I don’t really speak much about politics, but politics is involved in everything that I speak about,” he stated. Lineker added, “Ultimately you need to live with yourself, and if I see things that upset me in humanitarian terms and I find it quite upsetting, it triggers me to use a platform I would have never had before.”
He affirmed the importance of comprehensive storytelling at the BBC, noting that the approach to impartiality has evolved. “At the start with the BBC, for 20 years, there was never a question of impartiality applying to those who were outside news and current affairs,” Lineker explained. He remarked on the shift in 2019 when the BBC expanded impartiality rules and expressed that such requirements were not reflected in his original contract.
Lineker recalled discussions with the BBC’s director-general, where he communicated his willingness to continue speaking out on humanitarian topics. “If I wanted a quiet and easy life I could have just shut up… but I’m an idiot,” he quipped.
Shifting to his current online activities, Lineker stated he doesn’t engage in abusive behavior on social media, mentioning that he is still trying to figure out how to use Instagram after its updates. He recounted that he left X (formerly Twitter) a few years ago due to its negative atmosphere.
Initially, Lineker found joining X enjoyable for sharing “stupid dad jokes,” but he later labeled the platform as “awful” since Elon Musk’s acquisition. “I still have it and sometimes use it, but by and large, it’s largely Instagram now,” he mentioned.
Lineker, who was previously the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, departed from Match Of The Day in May 2025 following controversy surrounding an Instagram post that included an image of a rat, an image associated with antisemitism. He later apologized, claiming he did not notice the visual and asserting, “I don’t think anyone actually believes I would’ve posted that.” Lineker had been a prominent figure in sports broadcasting, having led Match Of The Day since 1999 and covered significant events like the 2012 London Olympics.
Gary Lineker has stated that if he “wanted a quiet and easy life I could have shut up” as he reflected on his past BBC controversies.
The former Match Of The Day presenter stepped down from his role at the broadcaster in May last year following public backlash over sharing his political commentary on social media platforms.
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Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival during a session with Adam Hawkins, Netflix‘s director of documentary series and the festival’s advisory chair, Lineker discussed using his prominence to “address things that upset me”.
The 65-year-old said: “I don’t really speak much about politics, but politics is involved in everything that I speak about.
“Ultimately you need to live with yourself, and if I see things that upset me in humanitarian terms and I find it quite upsetting, it triggers me to use a platform I would have never had before.
Gary Lineker said: ‘If I wanted a quiet and easy life I could have just shut up… but I’m an idiot’ (Ian West/PA) (PA Wire)
“People can disagree and they do and that’s absolutely fine.”
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The former footballer stressed that with the BBC “it’s important to tell the whole story”.
Explaining how things changed with the broadcaster over time, Lineker said: “At the start with the BBC, for 20 years, there was never a question of impartiality applying to those who were outside news and current affairs.
“I would post refugees and humanitarian issues, but then in 2019 the BBC moved the goalpost and said it applied to everyone and I said it wasn’t in my contract.
“I remember speaking with the director-general and said I would change and I would speak up if I wanted.
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“I said I would be cautious and it would be about humanitarian issues and I carried on.
“If I wanted a quiet and easy life I could have just shut up… but I’m an idiot.”
Discussing his present online activity, Lineker noted: “You won’t see me being abusive to anyone on socials – I don’t bother with it now though.
“I actually don’t know how to do a post on Instagram anymore – I have no idea how to do it after they changed it and I came off X a few years ago after it became a hateful, spiteful place.”
Lineker stepped down from his role at the BBC in May 2025 (Getty)
He recalled that joining X was originally a “bit of fun” suited to his “stupid dad jokes”, but described the platform as “awful” after Elon Musk took control.
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“I still have it and sometimes use it, but by and large it’s largely Instagram now,” he said.
Lineker previously anchored the BBC’s premier football programme Match Of The Day, leaving in May 2025 after a controversy surrounding an Instagram post concerning Zionism, which contained an image of a rat – historically an antisemitic insult.
The sports broadcaster apologised for the upload, clarifying that he had not noticed the rat visual and adding that he did not think “anyone actually believes I would’ve posted that”.
Lineker stood as the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, having fronted Match Of The Day since 1999 alongside leading major sports coverage including the 2012 London Olympics.
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