Editing Gary Lineker (section)

=== Sports presenting ===
Following retirement from professional football, Lineker developed a career in the media, initially on the [[BBC]] for [[BBC Radio 5 Live|Radio 5 Live]] and as a football pundit. He appeared as a team captain on the sports game show ''[[They Think It's All Over (TV series)|They Think It's All Over]]'' from 1995 to 2003. He also presented ''[[Grandstand (BBC)|Grandstand]]'' in the London studio while presenter [[Des Lynam]] was in [[Aintree]] when the [[Grand National]] was abandoned because of a bomb alert at the racecourse in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-11 |title=Gary Lineker: How he went from football sensation to BBC star |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp39xlwexyxo |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 1999, he replaced Lynam as the BBC's anchorman for football coverage, including its flagship football television programme ''[[Match of the Day]]'', becoming [[BBC Sport]]'s highest paid presenter.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/414635.stm | title= Lineker 'steps into Des's shoes' | work=BBC News | date=8 August 1999 | access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref> Following the departure of [[Steve Rider]] from the BBC in 2005, Lineker, who is a keen recreational golfer with a [[Golf handicap|handicap]] of four, became the new presenter for the corporation's golf coverage. Despite receiving some criticism from his peers,<ref name="Observer" /> he continued to front the BBC's coverage of the Masters and [[The Open Championship|The Open]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Simon Parke |title=A sporting chance for unity |url=http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=42724 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227073407/http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=42724 |archive-date=27 December 2008 |access-date=3 August 2009 |work=Church Times}}</ref>

In 2005, Lineker was sued for [[Slander and libel|defamation]] by Australian footballer [[Harry Kewell]] over comments Lineker had made writing in his column in ''[[The Sunday Telegraph]]'' about Kewell's transfer from [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] to [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict. It became known during the case that the article had actually been [[ghost-written]] by a journalist at ''The Sunday Telegraph'' following a telephone interview with Lineker.<ref>{{cite news |last=Booth |first=Robert |date=4 July 2006 |title=Lineker and Kewell settle libel case out of court |work=The Guardian |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1520864,00.html |access-date=13 November 2006}}</ref>

In May 2010, Lineker resigned from his role as columnist for ''[[The Mail on Sunday]]'' in protest over the sting operation against [[David Triesman, Baron Triesman|Lord Triesman]] that reportedly jeopardised England's bid to host the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]]. Triesman resigned as chairman of the bid and the FA on 16 May 2010 after the publication of a secret recording of a conversation between the peer and a former ministerial aide, during which he claimed that Spain and Russia were planning to bribe referees at the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] in South Africa.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ducker |first=James |date=19 May 2010 |title=Gary Lineker kicks column into touch in protest over Lord Triesman sting |work=[[The Times]] |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article7129899.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510010128/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/international/article7129899.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 May 2011 |access-date=19 May 2010}}</ref> Lineker then began working as an anchor for the English language football coverage for [[beIN Sports (MENA)|Al Jazeera Sport]], which is broadcast throughout most of the Middle East. He left the Qatar-based network in 2012.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Lineker was the lead presenter of the [[BBC]]'s coverage of the [[London 2012 Olympic Games]], presenting the evening action each day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC London 2012 presenter line-up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/021211-bbc-2012-presenter-line-up |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> This was a role he also took for the [[Glasgow 2014|Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/cwg |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

In 2013, Lineker began working for [[NBCSN]] as part of their Premier League coverage and contributing to the US version of ''[[Match of the Day (US TV series)|Match of the Day]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Graham |date=16 April 2013 |title=Lineker and Match of the Day feature in NBC's Premier League plans |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/apr/16/nbc-premier-league-match-of-the-day}}</ref> On 9 June 2015, Lineker was unveiled as the lead presenter of [[BT Sport]]'s [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] coverage. On 13 August 2016, Lineker presented the first ''Match of the Day'' of the [[2016–17 Premier League|2016–17]] season wearing only boxer shorts.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 August 2016 |title=Gary Lineker pants: Match of the Day presenter keeps Twitter promise |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37074641 |access-date=26 July 2018}}</ref> Believing it would simply not happen, he had promised in a tweet from December 2015<ref>{{cite web |title=Gary Lineker on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/garylineker/status/676520648097865728?lang=en}}</ref> that if Leicester City won the [[2015–16 Premier League|Premier League]], he would "present ''Match of the Day'' in just my undies".

As of July 2022, Lineker is the highest-paid BBC presenter and has been for several years; receiving payments of £1.75–1.76 million each year between 2016 and 2020,<ref>{{cite news |date=11 July 2018 |title=BBC pay: The 2017-18 list of star salaries in full |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44792074 |access-date=2 November 2020}}</ref><ref name="BBC News">{{cite news |date=15 September 2020 |title=BBC star salaries: Gary Lineker takes pay cut as Zoe Ball shoots up list |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-54119758 |access-date=2 November 2020}}</ref> and approximately £1.35 million in 2020–21.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 July 2022 |title=Gary Lineker becomes only on-air BBC talent to earn more than £1m |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/gary-lineker-tim-davie-lauren-laverne-radio-nadine-dorries-b2121192.html |access-date=15 March 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> His pay has been criticised by [[Julian Knight (politician)|Julian Knight]], chair of the parliamentary [[Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |date=15 September 2020 |title=BBC Talent Salaries Draw Criticism, But New Boss Tim Davie Holds His Ground |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/global/bbc-graham-norton-millions-gary-lineker-1234770277/ |access-date=2 November 2020 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> and former BBC presenter [[Esther Rantzen]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Fenwick |first=George |date=16 September 2020 |title=Dame Esther Rantzen calls for all BBC salaries to be cut to £150,000 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/dame-esther-ranzen-gary-lineker-bbc-salaries-a4549021.html |access-date=2 November 2020 |website=www.standard.co.uk}}</ref> The BBC's Director General, [[Tim Davie]], stated that Lineker's pay was justified "because of the value of analysis to the viewing audience".<ref>{{cite news |title=BBC boss defends Gary Lineker and Zoe Ball's £1.3 million salaries |language=en-GB |work=belfasttelegraph |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/bbc-boss-defends-gary-lineker-and-zoe-balls-13-million-salaries-39572713.html |access-date=2 November 2020 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

In March 2023, Lineker was required to step back from presenting on the BBC for three days due to a controversy over his criticism of the British government's immigration policy on Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gary Lineker stepping back from role as Match of the Day presenter |url=https://news.sky.com/story/gary-lineker-stepping-back-from-role-as-match-of-the-day-presenter-12830108 |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=Sky News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":03">{{Cite news |title=Gary Lineker: Wright and Shearer pull out of MOTD |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/entertainment-arts-64895316 |access-date=10 March 2023 |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=BBC seeks to end crisis by reinstating presenter Lineker |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/bbc-says-gary-lineker-return-presenting-2023-03-13/ |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=Reuters |date=13 March 2023 |language=en|last1=Young |first1=Sarah |last2=Holton |first2=Kate }}</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news |date=13 March 2023 |title=Gary Lineker will abide by BBC guidelines until review completed - Tim Davie |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-64937656 |access-date=13 March 2023}}</ref>

On 11 November 2024, it was announced that Lineker would be stepping down from presenting ''Match of the Day'' following the conclusion of the [[2024–25 Premier League]] season in May 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title =Gary Lineker to leave BBC's Match of the day|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdd456rzg75o|access-date=11 November 2024|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Having been previously announced as leaving the BBC after covering the [[2025–26 FA Cup]] and the [[2026 FIFA World Cup|2026 World Cup]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Razzall |first=Katie |date=2024 |title=Gary Lineker to leave BBC's Match of the Day |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdd456rzg75o}}</ref> in May 2025 it was announced that Lineker would leave the BBC completely at the end of the season following further controversy regarding his usage of social media, including sharing a post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, historically used as an antisemitic insult.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 May 2025 |title=Lineker to leave BBC sooner than planned after antisemitism row |work=BBC News |author1=Paul Glynn |author2=Steven McIntosh |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c79e37nld1no |access-date=19 May 2025}}</ref>