Gary Lineker became emotional while reflecting on the support he received from Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, which left him in tears after his suspension from the BBC. The former England captain was controversially removed from Match of the Day in 2023 following a social media post.
His suspension came after he made a tweet on Twitter likening the Government’s actions regarding immigrants to ‘1930s Germany.’ The move sparked a wave of solidarity from Wright, Shearer, and other commentators.
The united front resulted in the show airing without any punditry or analysis. The suspension was lifted before the next broadcast, with BBC Director General Tim Davie issuing an apology for the initial decision.
Recalling the incident, Lineker shared his experience with LBC, revealing how Wright and Shearer stood by him. The heartfelt support from his colleagues deeply moved Lineker, causing him to break down emotionally.
After 26 years as the host of Match of the Day, Lineker bid farewell at the end of the previous season. It was also confirmed that he would not be part of the broadcaster’s World Cup coverage in the upcoming summer.
In a separate development, Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, offering significant savings to subscribers and an extensive selection of live matches, including over 1,400 Premier League and EFL games. Sky will showcase a minimum of 215 live Premier League matches in the upcoming season, an increase of up to 100 games compared to previous seasons.