Gary Lineker was also one of the best strikers in the history of English football: he scored 48 goals in 80 appearances for the national team from 1984 to 1992, notably finishing as the silver boot of the 1986 World Cup. During the 461 In club matches during his professional career, at Leicester City, Everton, FC Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspurs and Nagoya Campus, he scored 238 goals. He is also renowned for never having received the slightest yellow card. Impressive statistics.
A bitter critic of the Conservative Party
The BBC’s new director of sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, has however refused to renew his contract, which lasts until the end of the season. To prevent this affair from making even more waves, he presented this separation as a voluntary departure from this “world class presenter“. In return, Mr Kay-Jelski agreed that he will continue to present the show for FA Cup and national team matches until the next World Cup, during the summer of 2026. the British press thus headlined “the departure of Gary Lineker from Match of the Day” after twenty-five years at its head.
However, nothing is less true. In September, at the start of negotiations, Gary Lineker made it known through relatives that he hoped to extend his contract. at least two or three seasons” and that he was ready to lower his salary to 1.12 million francs per year, according to the daily The Sun.
The other look: and in the end, Gary Lineker wins!
Why did he fall? For political reasons. The presenter has in fact gotten into the habit of commenting on certain political facts on social networks. Fervent opponent of Brexit, which he considered in 2018 “gone in the wrong direction“, he widely criticized the Conservative government’s policy in this matter. He was thus indignant that politicians had voted in favor”discharge of polluted water into the sea“. Above all, in March 2023, he attacked Interior Minister Suella Braverman, who in his view used the same language as Nazi officials during the 1930s to justify sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. asylum entered without a valid visa in the country.Hundreds of millions of people around the world could benefit from protection under our current laws. Let’s be clear: they come here, […] They won’t stop coming here“, the minister said in particular.
The ex-footballer was suspended from the television channel for criticizing the government.
The presenter was then temporarily suspended by his management, who considered that “his recent social media activity violates our guidelines.” But his colleagues had rallied around him and none of them had agreed to present the show in his place. So much so that it was limited to an accumulation of match summaries, without the technical and tactical comments that made it so successful.
This first standoff lost, the management of the BBC preferred to wait for the contractual negotiations to thank the person concerned more discreetly. She must now find a replacement. The challenge promises to be immense.
