Gary Lineker

Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker has told reporters outside his London home that he stands by his criticism of the government's asylum seeker policy ...

[Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts](https://podfollow.com/skynewsdaily) Before closing the door, he was asked if he regretted his tweet. His remarks have sparked a row over whether he adhered to the BBC's impartiality guidelines. well we chat often." Asked if he had spoken to the director general, he said, after a pause, "yeah" before adding: "He said... As he passed round the back of the vehicle, he said "no" when asked if he fears suspension over his tweets.

The Match of the Day host said he stands by his tweet that criticised the government's asylum policy.

Responding to a question in the Commons Ms Frazer said: "As somebody whose grandmother escaped Nazi Germany in the 1930s I think it's really disappointing and inappropriate to compare government policy on immigration... Mr Ayre, a former member of the broadcasting regulator Ofcom's content board, said it was "unacceptable" to have someone who works for the BBC "comparing Suella Braverman to the third Reich". "The BBC is operationally independent and I'm pleased the BBC will be speaking to Gary Lineker to remind him of his responsibilities in relation to social media." Lucy Frazer said it was "important for the BBC to retain impartiality if it is to retain the trust of the public who pay the licence fee". The BBC said on Wednesday it was having a "frank conversation" with Lineker about the BBC's guidelines on remaining impartial. Lineker had compared the language the government used to set out asylum plans to "that used by Germany in the 30s".

Gary Lineker was never booked in his 16-year playing career but the former England striker is in danger of being shown the red card by his employer, ...

Following his retirement, Lineker embarked on a media career, working as a football pundit before taking over as Match of the Day host while also writing columns for British newspapers. Lineker played 80 times for his country and his four goals at the 1990 World Cup despite being unwell propelled England to the semi-finals. 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?— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) Lineker doubled down on Wednesday, saying he would continue to speak for those who had no voice. I want to thank each and every one of you," he added on Twitter. Gary Lineker was never booked in his 16-year playing career but the former England striker is in danger of being shown the red card by his employer, the BBC, for standing up for refugees trying to make their way to Britain.

The Talk TV host said Lineker's remarks were “clearly incendiary” but that his opinions “should not matter to the BBC's news output”.

I think the BBC absolutely puts the highest value on impartiality and that’s clearly important to us.” “If you decide not to watch him because of opinions, that’s your right. In the end he’s just a football presenter, and I don’t mean that to denigrate him, he’s very good at it. “Gary got a bit carried away, as he tends to do. But he’s not a news presenter. A BBC source also told the PA news agency that the corporation was taking the matter “seriously” and expects to have a “frank conversation” with the ex-England striker.

Former England striker Gary Lineker has faced criticism from members of the Conservative party after comparing the language used to launch the policy with ...

Before closing the door, he was asked if he regretted his tweet. well we chat often". He responded "no" and when asked if he stood by it he said "course". Then as he climbed into the rear passenger seat, he responded to a reporter asking if he has spoken to the BBC, saying: "I'm always talking to the BBC." As he passed round the back of the vehicle, he said "no" when asked if he fears suspension over his tweets. Former England striker Gary Lineker has faced criticism from members of the Conservative party after comparing the language used to launch the policy with 1930s Germany; it has sparked a row over whether he has adhered to the BBC's impartiality rules

However, support has come from media figures including Piers Morgan and Sky News commentator Adam Boulton. Eurovision 2023 Director-general of the BBC Tim Davie ...

She said: “I think it is, from a personal point of view… well, we chat often”. “And in the case of presenters – and Gary’s the face of the World Cup and he’s the face of Match Of The Day – it clearly would be better for the BBC if he wasn’t on one side of the referendum debate and if he wasn’t criticising current serving politicians.” However, support has come from media figures including Piers Morgan and Sky News commentator Adam Boulton. Speaking in the Commons earlier on Thursday, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said it is important for the BBC to maintain impartiality if it is to “retain the trust of the public who pay the licence fee”. It came as the Culture Secretary described the Match Of The Day presenter’s comments as “disappointing and inappropriate” and said it is important for the BBC to maintain impartiality if it is to “retain the trust of the public who pay the licence fee”.

Rod Liddle has defended Gary Lineker's right to free speech after the BBC presenter compared the Government's plan to stop migrant boats to Nazi Germany.

Gary Lineker has told reporters outside his London home that he stands by his criticism of the... BREAKING: Gary Lineker tells reporters he stands by his criticism of Government's immigration policy Lineker's not the problem the BBC is. Anyone who uses language like that about our government is by definition a moron." Police in London have arrested 222 suspects and seized £1m worth of drugs during a crackdown on... An immigrant from Iraq who stabbed a student in a bid to be deported has been jailed.

It's like clockwork. Every few months the government announces a new plan to tighten immigration policy and then, within seconds, you find '1930s Germany' ...

To make the ‘moral lesson’ of the Holocaust work for the modern day, its causes have to be abstracted. He could and should be replaced at a fraction of the cost by any number of footballing motormouths. I feel that the Holocaust reference merely shows that Mr Lineker is a bit lacking in education and common sense. This whole fiasco is a test of the BBC. But why are critics of the government so quick to reach for the rise of Nazism? As memories of the atrocity fade away, we cannot allow such abstractions to obscure the historical reality of what the Holocaust was. According to that view, the story of Hitler is a kind of cautionary tale: one learns about it simply so that one can ‘recognise’ the hallmarks of fascism in one’s everyday life and ‘call them out’. In short, there can be no surprise that people use the Holocaust as a blunt rhetorical tool, because they believe that the purpose of learning about the Holocaust is to use it as a blunt rhetorical tool. It wasn’t about immigration, for one thing: most of the massacred Jews had lived where they lived for decades, if not centuries, and even the most impeccable assimilation didn’t spare them from the camps. To contort the history of 1930s Germany into an analogy for 2020s Britain, one has to do and say some very strange things. It is untrue, for example, that Nazi rhetoric was ‘insidious’ or ‘subtle’, as though they ever bothered to hide their violent hatred of Jews. Those who make such claims ought to be mocked, aside from anything else, for the apparent shallowness of their arsenal of cultural references.

Gary Lineker's criticism of the government's migrant policy have led to calls for him to be sacked from the BBC - but it's not the first time he's got in ...

Under the BBC's social media rules, criticising colleagues is off-limits. If you can't abide it, get off it." Thanks." Sky News looks at some of his controversies, according to the broadcaster's impartiality rules. He tweeted: "Gary. Please observe BBC editorial guidelines and keep your political views, whatever they are and whatever the subject, to yourself. [ suggested LGBT football fans should be "respectful" of Qata](https://news.sky.com/story/foreign-secretary-james-cleverly-criticised-for-saying-lgbt-football-fans-should-respect-qatar-12730610) [r](https://news.sky.com/story/foreign-secretary-james-cleverly-criticised-for-saying-lgbt-football-fans-should-respect-qatar-12730610), where homosexuality is illegal, if they visited for the World Cup. The ECU said Lineker was "one of the BBC's highest profile stars" and said while not being required to uphold the same high standards of impartiality as its journalists, he had an "additional responsibility" because of his profile. You are the face of BBC Sport. [Gary Lineker](https://news.sky.com/topic/gary-lineker-7610) signed a five-year deal with the BBC in 2020, under which he [agreed to adhere to their updated impartiality rules](https://news.sky.com/story/gary-lineker-to-adhere-to-new-bbc-impartiality-rules-after-signing-fresh-five-year-deal-12072460). [Lineker commented on a video of Suella Braverman](https://news.sky.com/story/gary-lineker-lineker-will-be-spoken-to-by-bbc-after-appearing-to-compare-migrant-policy-to-nazi-germany-12828462) unveiling [the government's plans to stop migrants](https://news.sky.com/story/annual-cap-on-migrants-entering-through-safe-routes-unveiled-and-small-boat-migrants-to-be-removed-swiftly-under-new-bill-12827855) crossing the Channel on small boats and saying the UK is being "overwhelmed". As well voicing as his Brexit opinions, he bemoaned "the absolute state of our politics", saying "imagine how hopeless you'd have to be to still be behind the Tory party in the polls".

On Thursday, Gary Lineker tweeted that he was not receiving any punishment or suspension, and he was glad that the exaggerated story, regarding his remarks, ...

The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). However, a BBC insider revealed to The [Guardian](/topic/guardian)that while senior managers have spoken with Lineker about the matter, no decision has been made regarding any potential course of action after his tweets. BBC bosses reportedly plan to have a candid discussion with Lineker about the corporation's policies on impartiality on social media. When asked by reporters on Thursday if he was worried about being suspended, Lineker responded with a firm "no." The pressure on Lineker is still mounting due to the controversy surrounding his remarks. He expressed his excitement about presenting Match of the Day on Saturday and thanked everyone for their amazing support, which he found overwhelming.

The presenter has the right to air his views, but it will harm the corporation he loves, says broadcaster and former BBC executive Roger Bolton.

[Richard Sharp](https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/feb/12/bbc-chairman-richard-sharp-breached-standards-johnson-loan) has not yet resigned as BBC chair in the light of the clear conflicts of interest the revelations about [Boris Johnson’s finances](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/28/boris-johnson-asked-to-stop-seeking-richard-sharps-advice-on-finances-reports-say) have revealed. First that the country is deeply divided, second that the present government is determined to make this a key election issue and third that in the short term at least the numbers will not drop significantly. There are plenty of politicians and papers who will ignore the facts or claim the corporation is guilty of biased reporting, and they may, almost certainly will, point to Lineker’s tweets as evidence of this. Bluntly, because the future of the BBC is at stake, and that is more important in the long term than his undoubted right to tweet. As such, he has a personal responsibility not to do anything that may bring the BBC into disrepute, and one of the BBC’s most precious characteristics is its impartiality. Gary Lineker is a brilliant presenter, and by all accounts a good man who cares deeply about the underdog.

Ex-footballer says he 'looks forward' to presenting flagship BBC show on Saturday amid debate over impartiality rules.

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The Match of the Day host, 62, has faced criticism for comparing the government's immigration policy to the Nazi regime.