Gary Lineker made headlines this week after being pulled from Match of the Day over social media posts.
Following support from pundits and commentators, who also decided to pull out of the BBC show, Lineker was later reinstated. It came as BBC's Final Score and Football Focus shows were axed after presenters decided to withdraw their services in solidarity with the former England striker.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match Of The Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media."
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They added: “When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. We have never said that Gary should be an opinion-free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.”
The presenter has been embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new UK Government asylum policy with 1930s Germany, reported Wales Online.
Lineker has since been reinstated to MOTD after the BBC apologised on Monday. Director-General Tim Davie said he recognised "the potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC's social media guidance" following a "difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters, and most importantly, our audiences".
How much does Gary Lineker get paid?
When the BBC revealed its highest on-air earners for 2021/22, Lineker was top of the pile - for the fifth year running.
Lineker, it was revealed, earned between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999 in 2021/2022 for work including Match of the Day and Sports Personality Of The Year – a reduction of £10,000 on the previous year.
Fellow Match of the Day regular Alan Shearer is third on the list, earning over £450,000. Welsh broadcaster Huw Edwards also figures in the top 10 with his salary of more than £410,000.
BBC 2022 top earners list:
- Gary Lineker £1,350,000-1,354,999 (down from £1,360,000-£1,364,999)
- Zoe Ball £980,000-£984,999 (down from £1,130,000-£1,134,999)
- Alan Shearer £450,000-£454,999 (up from £390,000-£394,999)
- = Steve Wright £450,000-£454,999 (down from £465,000-£469,999)
- Stephen Nolan £415,000-£419,999 (up from £405,000-£409,999)
- Fiona Bruce £410,000-£414,999 (up from £405,000-£409,999)
- = Huw Edwards £410,000-£414,999 (down from £425,000-£429,999)
- Vanessa Feltz £400,000-£404,999 (up from £390,000-£394,999)
- = Scott Mills £400,000-£404,999 (up from £375,000-£379,999)
- Greg James £390,000-£394,999 (up from £310,000-£314,999)
What is Gary Lineker's net worth?
It is estimated by Celebrity Net Worth that Lineker is worth around £29million.
Lineker has made money from commercial tie-ups with brands such as Walkers crisps and enjoyed a hugely successful football playing career before that. He also own his own TV production company, Goalhanger Films.
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