BBC staff's response to Gary Lineker's controversial comments

In recent developments, Gary Lineker's colleagues at the BBC are reportedly feeling 'embarrassed' by his critical comments towards England manager Gareth Southgate, indicating a growing rift within the Match of the Day team. This latest controversy follows backlash Lineker faced for wearing his own clothing range on air, a violation of BBC guidelines. The star presenter sported items from his Next collection during coverage of the England vs Serbia game, prompting internal dissatisfaction among BBC staff. Lineker's remarks on his podcast, 'The Rest is Football', owned by his production company Goalhanger, have stirred further tensions, with Southgate acknowledging Lineker's criticisms. Lineker, who earns £1.35m annually from the BBC, has faced scrutiny for his outspoken opinions and actions, including allegedly breaching BBC guidelines by promoting his menswear range on air. With just a year left on his contract, Lineker's future on Match of the Day is uncertain, as he has been excluded from presenting the BBC's upcoming Champions League highlights program. Despite his previous experience covering the Champions League, BBC bosses have reportedly chosen Gabby Logan for the role, raising questions about Lineker's standing at the network. The situation is compounded by Lineker's history of controversial statements, such as his social media post comparing the UK government's language on asylum policy to that of 1930s Germany, which led to his suspension from Match of the Day. While Lineker's political views and outspoken nature have drawn criticism, an independent panel ruled that non-news presenters like him are entitled to express political opinions. The BBC's decision not to extend Lineker's contract for the new Champions League show is attributed to his busy schedule and reluctance to travel to the Salford studio for midweek programs. As BBC director general Tim Davie holds Lineker's future in his hands, the network faces the challenge of providing clarity on its programming lineup. Despite ongoing controversies and internal discord, Lineker remains a prominent figure in football broadcasting, with the BBC expected to announce more details about its Champions League coverage in the coming months.