Editing Gary Lineker (section)

==Personal life==
[[File:Gary Linekar.jpg|thumb|upright|Lineker in 2009]]

Lineker married Michelle Cockayne in 1986. They have four sons. In May 2006, Cockayne filed for divorce on the grounds of Lineker's alleged "unreasonable behaviour", with documents submitted to the court claiming that his actions in their marriage had caused her "stress and anxiety". The couple subsequently stated that the situation was amicable.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gary Lineker and wife to separate |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4960106.stm |work=BBC News |date=30 April 2006 |access-date=13 November 2006}}</ref>

In November 1991, Lineker's eldest son survived a rare form of [[leukaemia]] whilst he was a baby, and was treated at [[Great Ormond Street Hospital]] in London.<ref name=Observer/> Lineker now supports children's cancer charity [[CLIC Sargent]] and has appeared in promotional clips encouraging people to give blood. Lineker has been actively involved with other cancer charities such as Leukaemia Busters, where between 1994 and 2005 Gary and Michelle were the charity's patrons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leukaemiabusters.org.uk/pages/background.aspx |title=Background of Leukaemia Busters |publisher=Leukaemia Busters |access-date=19 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618062453/http://www.leukaemiabusters.org.uk/pages/background.aspx |archive-date=18 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/archive/2000/10/16/Hampshire+Archive/5626226.Gary_s_goal_is_to_fight_leukaemia/ |title=Gary's goal is to fight leukaemia |work=Daily Echo |date=16 October 2000 |access-date=29 May 2011}}</ref> He has also been involved with the Fight for Life and [[Cancer Research UK]] charities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fightforlife.org/appeal2008.html |title=Fight for Life Appeal 2008 |publisher=Fightforlife.org |access-date=3 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090807013235/http://www.fightforlife.org/appeal2008.html |archive-date=7 August 2009}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cafonline.org/default.aspx?page=15216 "Gary Lineker to face questioning for Cancer Research UK charity fundraiser"], ''[[Charities Aid Foundation]]'', 3 March 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2008.</ref>

Lineker was made a [[Freedom of the City|freeman]] of the City of Leicester in 1995 and he has been referred to as "Leicester's favourite son".<ref>{{cite news |last=Ley |first=John |title=Lineker keen to bale out Leicester for his boys' sake |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/3036643/Lineker-keen-to-bale-out-Leicester-for-his-boys-sake.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=24 October 2002 |access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=BBC – Leicester – Features – Lineker honoured |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/leicester/content/articles/2005/02/22/gary_lineker_road_opens_feature.shtml |publisher=BBC |date=23 February 2005 |access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref>

In October 2002, Lineker backed a £5&nbsp;million bid to rescue his former club [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]], which had recently gone into [[Administration (law)|administration]], describing his involvement as "charity" rather than an "ego trip".<ref>{{cite news |last=Ley |first=John |title=Lineker keen to bail out Leicester for his boys' sake |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/3036643/Lineker-keen-to-bale-out-Leicester-for-his-boys-sake.html |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |date=24 October 2002}}</ref> He stated that he would invest a six-figure sum and that other members of his consortium would invest a similar amount.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lineker unveils Leicester rescue bid |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/2352155.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 October 2002 |access-date=3 August 2009}}</ref> Lineker met with fans' groups to persuade them to try and raise money to rescue his former club. The club was eventually saved from [[liquidation]]. He is now honorary Vice President of Leicester City.
[[File:Gary and Danielle Lineker at The Asian Awards.jpg|right|thumb|Gary and Danielle Lineker at [[The Asian Awards]] in 2015]]
Lineker married [[Danielle Lineker|Danielle Bux]] on 2 September 2009, in [[Ravello]], Italy. On 13 January 2016, Lineker and Bux announced they were divorcing, after six years of marriage,<ref name=kids>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12096442/Gary-Lineker-and-his-wife-to-divorce-because-hes-too-old-to-start-another-family.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12096442/Gary-Lineker-and-his-wife-to-divorce-because-hes-too-old-to-start-another-family.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Gary Lineker and his wife to divorce 'because he's too old to start another family'|date=13 January 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=13 January 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> the reason given being Gary not wanting more children.<ref name=kids/>

In 1985, Lineker was best man at snooker player [[Willie Thorne]]'s wedding<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rawling |first1=John |title=Willie Thorne obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jun/17/willie-thorne-obituary |access-date=23 June 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=17 June 2020}}</ref> and their close friendship was the subject of the VHS production, ''Best of Friends – The Official Story of Gary Lineker & Willie Thorne''.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 May 2014|title=Pirlo perfection, plus the Official Story of Gary Lineker and Willie Thorne|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/may/08/classic-youtube-best-sports-clips-on-the-web|access-date=17 June 2020}}</ref>

In November 2017, Lineker was named in the [[Paradise Papers]] in connection with a [[tax avoidance]] scheme relating to property owned in [[Barbados]] and a company set up in the [[British Virgin Islands]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/09/revealed-scheme-gary-lineker-tax-barbados-home|title=Revealed: scheme that let Gary Lineker avoid tax on Barbados home|first1=Hilary|last1=Osborne|first2=Richard|last2=Luscombe|date=9 November 2017|work=The Guardian}}</ref>

Lineker speaks fluent Spanish, which he learnt during his time playing for FC Barcelona, and is an advocate for the teaching of foreign languages in schools.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/sep/26/gary-lineker-free-language-resources|title=Gary Lineker kickstarts language learning in schools|first=Anna|last=Codrea-Rado|newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 September 2013|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/physical-educaton-ks3-gcse-gary-lineker-spanish/zmxsbdm|title=Spanish GCSE: Gary Lineker presents Match of the Day in Spanish|website=BBC Class Clips Video}}</ref>

In April 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]], Lineker announced that he was donating £140,000 to the [[British Red Cross]] towards research into the virus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/gary-lineker-salary-british-red-cross-coronavirus-appeal-a4405281.html|title=Gary Lineker donates £140,000 to British Red Cross appeal|date=2 April 2020|website=Evening Standard}}</ref>

On 28 March 2023 he won an appeal against [[HM Revenue and Customs]] over a bill that totalled £4.9 million. The authority had pursued him over taxes on income from the BBC and [[BT Sport]] from 2013–14 to 2017–18 on the grounds he was an employee of both organisations at the time. A judge ruled he was a freelancer and had contracts with both broadcasters.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 March 2023 |title=Lineker wins appeal over 4.9 million pounds tax bill |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/lineker-wins-appeal-over-49-million-pounds-tax-bill-2023-03-28/ |access-date=29 March 2023}}</ref>

===Political views===
Lineker has been noted for political views which he shares on [[Twitter]]. In December 2016, he was described by Angus Harrison of [[Vice News]] as "the [[British Left]]'s Loudest Voice" for being "both staunchly liberal and resolutely unafraid of making his views known".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=Angus |title=How Gary Lineker Became the British Left's Loudest Voice |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/gary-lineker-voice-of-the-left-twitter/ |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=Vice News |date=1 December 2016}}</ref> Using a football analogy, Lineker defined his ideological position as "I make more runs to the left than the right, but never felt comfortable on the wing".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sommers |first1=Jack |title=Gary Lineker Describes Feeling 'Politically Homeless' As Jeremy Corbyn Sacks Soft Brexit Backers |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/gary-lineker-hard-brexit-labour-conservative_uk_5955494fe4b05c37bb7d0051 |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=HuffPost |date=29 June 2017}}</ref> After the [[2017 United Kingdom general election]], in which [[Theresa May]] led the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] and [[Jeremy Corbyn]] led [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]], Lineker wrote "Anyone else feel politically homeless? Everything seems [[Far-right politics|far right]] or [[Far-left politics|way left]]. Something sensibly [[centrist]] might appeal?"<ref>{{cite news |title=What Gary Lineker's political party might support |url=https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/people/gary-lineker-politician-need-76014 |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=i |date=30 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Why Gary Lineker is the centrists' choice |url=https://www.theweek.co.uk/86236/gary-lineker-the-centrists-choice |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=The Week |date=30 June 2017}}</ref>

Lineker endorsed a Remain vote in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blair |first1=Olivia |title=Gary Lineker backs Remain vote in EU referendum |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/eu-referendum-gary-lineker-backs-remain-vote-a7095246.html |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=The Independent |date=22 June 2016}}</ref> In July 2018, he announced his support for [[People's Vote]], a campaign group calling for a public vote on the final [[Brexit]] deal between the UK and the European Union.<ref>{{cite news |last=Heffer |first=Greg |title=Gary Lineker joins campaign for second Brexit referendum |url=https://news.sky.com/story/gary-lineker-joins-campaign-for-second-brexit-referendum-11448862 |publisher=[[Sky News]] |date=26 July 2018 |access-date=26 July 2018}}</ref>

On 18 October 2016, Lineker tweeted a rebuttal to a statement made by MP [[David Davies (Welsh politician)|David Davies]] where Davies suggested refugees entering the UK should undergo dental checks to verify their age: "The treatment by some towards these young refugees is hideously racist and utterly heartless. What's happening to our country?"<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oppenheim |first1=Maya |title=Gary Lineker receives torrent of criticism after calling response to child refugees' arrival 'hideously racist' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/gary-lineker-twitter-criticism-defend-refugees-a7369156.html |access-date=24 June 2022 |work=The Independent |date=19 October 2016}}</ref> This led ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' to call for Lineker's sacking from ''Match of the Day'', accusing him of breaching BBC impartiality guidelines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2016/10/would-you-let-your-child-change-their-gender|title=Would you let your child change their gender?|website=New Statesman|date=28 October 2016|access-date=29 October 2016}}</ref>

In December 2018, Lineker was criticised by the BBC's cricket correspondent [[Jonathan Agnew]] for expressing his political views on Twitter. Agnew said, "You are the face of BBC Sport. Please observe BBC editorial guidelines and keep your political views, whatever they are and whatever the subject, to yourself. I'd be sacked if I followed your example."<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyons |first=Kate |title=Gary Lineker criticised by Jonathan Agnew for 'political' Brexit tweets |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/dec/14/gary-lineker-criticised-by-jonathan-agnew-for-political-brexit-tweets |work=The Guardian |date=14 December 2018 |access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref> A BBC spokesperson said, "Gary is not involved in any news or political output for the BBC and as such, any expression of his personal political views does not affect the BBC's impartiality."<ref>{{cite news |title=Gary Lineker row: What can BBC presenters say and not say? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46566574 |access-date=24 June 2022 |publisher=BBC News |date=14 December 2018}}</ref>

In October 2022, a complaint about a tweet from Lineker that referred to donations to the Conservative Party was upheld by the BBC, on the grounds that it breached social media use guidelines and failed to meet editorial standards of impartiality.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gary Lineker and Twitter |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/contact/ecu/gary-lineker-and-twitter |access-date=24 October 2022 |publisher=BBC News |date=13 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |title=Gary Lineker found in breach of BBC guidelines with Tory donors tweet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/oct/13/gary-lineker-found-in-breach-of-bbc-guidelines-with-tory-donors-tweet |access-date=24 October 2022 |work=The Guardian |date=13 October 2022}}</ref> During the [[2022 FIFA World Cup|2022 World Cup]], Qatari lawyer [[Hassan Al-Thawadi]] criticised Lineker for covering human rights violations in [[Qatar]] by stating that he did not talk about such issues with other host countries. In response, Lineker countered on ''[[The News Agents]]'' podcast that he covered issues in other host countries, and characterised the [[United States]], one of the countries co-hosting the [[2026 FIFA World Cup|2026 World Cup]], as an "[[Racism in the United States|extraordinarily racist country]]".<ref>{{Cite web|first=Ben|last=Rumsby|title=Gary Lineker calls US 'extraordinarily racist country' and reignites row between BBC and Qatar|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/2022/12/13/gary-lineker-reignites-row-bbc-qatar-calls-usa-extraordinarily/|website=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=13 December 2022|access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref> His statements on the United States were criticised by [[Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport|Culture Secretary]] [[Michelle Donelan]] in January 2023, who said they were "very derogatory questionable comments".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Connie |last2=Pitts |first2=Stephen |date=12 January 2023 |title=Culture Secretary criticises Gary Lineker over comments on Qatar and US racism |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/culture-secretary-criticises-gary-lineker-25955800 |access-date=8 March 2023 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}</ref>

==== 2023 controversy and suspension from ''Match of the Day'' ====
In March 2023, Lineker criticised the British government's asylum policy via Twitter. Commenting on a video message by the [[Home Secretary]], [[Suella Braverman]], about stopping migrants crossing the [[English Channel]] in small boats, he said the message was "beyond awful" and called the government's policy "an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s".<ref name=":02">{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Caroline |date=8 March 2023 |title=Gary Lineker to be spoken to by BBC after comparing UK asylum policy to Nazi Germany |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/08/gary-lineker-bbc-uk-asylum-policy-nazi-germany-match-of-the-day-presenter |access-date=8 March 2023}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Caroline |last2=Clinton |first2=Jane |date=8 March 2023 |title=Gary Lineker responds to critics of his immigration policy comments |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/08/gary-lineker-bbc-uk-asylum-policy-nazi-germany-match-of-the-day-presenter |access-date=11 March 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=11 March 2023 |title=BBC è nei guai per avere sospeso Gary Lineker |trans-title=BBC is in trouble after suspending Gary Lineker |url=https://www.ilpost.it/2023/03/11/gary-lineker-sospeso-bbc/ |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=Il Post |language=it-IT}}</ref> The comments received condemnation from some Conservative politicians, including Braverman herself,<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":12"/> and a spokesperson for Labour leader [[Keir Starmer]] said comparisons with 1930s Germany "aren't always the best way" to make an argument.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":1" /> Lineker received support from other political figures, including [[Alf Dubs, Baron Dubs|Baron Dubs]],<ref name=":02" /> [[Alastair Campbell]],<ref name=":02" /> and [[Angela Rayner]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Cooney |first=Christy |date=11 March 2023 |title='Assault on free speech': Gary Lineker's defenders and detractors |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/11/assault-on-free-speech-gary-linekers-defenders-and-detractors |access-date=11 March 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> A BBC source said the corporation was taking the matter "seriously" and expected to have a "frank conversation" with Lineker.<ref name=":02" /> The BBC's culture and media editor [[Katie Razzall]] wrote, "As the UK's most scrutinised media organisation in increasingly polarised times, to say Gary Lineker's recent tweets cause difficulty for the BBC is an understatement."<ref>{{cite news |last=Razzall |first=Katie |date=8 March 2023 |title=Gary Lineker: Why his comments present a problem for the BBC |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64889868 |access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref> Lineker said he stood by his comments and did not fear suspension from his BBC work.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Charley |date=9 March 2023 |title=Gary Lineker says he does not fear BBC suspension over asylum policy tweet |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64899472 |access-date=9 March 2023}}</ref>

On 10 March, the BBC said Lineker would step back from his job on ''Match of the Day'' because it considered "his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines". It added it had "decided Lineker will not present ''Match of the Day'' until there's an agreed and clear position on his use of social media".<ref name=":03"/><ref name=":12"/><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Maclellan |first1=Kylie |last2=Davey |first2=James |date=10 March 2023 |title=Lineker to 'step back' from BBC presenting after migration row |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/lineker-step-back-bbc-presenting-after-migration-row-2023-03-10/ |access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref><ref name=":22">{{Cite web |date=11 March 2023 |title=Gary Lineker: BBC takes presenter off Match of the Day duties |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12830486/bbc-sorry-as-sports-shows-pulled-lineker-row-grows |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=Sky Sports |language=en-GB}}</ref> Lineker's BBC Sport colleagues [[Ian Wright]], [[Alan Shearer]],<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":03"/><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Waterson |first=Jim |date=10 March 2023 |title=Match of the Day to air without presenter or pundits after Gary Lineker's suspension |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/10/gary-lineker-step-back-match-of-the-day-bbc |access-date=11 March 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Steve Wilson (football commentator)|Steve Wilson]], [[Conor McNamara]], [[Robyn Cowen]], [[Steven Wyeth]],<ref name="Evans 20232">{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Gareth |date=10 March 2023 |title=Match of the Day in crisis as commentators join growing staff boycott |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64918162 |access-date=11 March 2023 |website=BBC News}}</ref> [[Alex Scott (footballer, born 1984)|Alex Scott]], [[Jason Mohammad]], [[Mark Chapman (broadcaster)|Mark Chapman]], [[Jermaine Jenas]], [[Dion Dublin]] and [[Jermain Defoe]] all pulled out of their respective roles in BBC programmes in the next hours in solidarity with him.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":22" /><ref name=":3" /> As a result, the broadcaster was forced to reduce its sports-related schedules for 11 and 12 March,<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":22" /> with ''Match of the Day'' going ahead without any hosts or studio presentation, thus featuring only match footage.<ref name=":12" /><ref name=":22" /><ref name=":3" /> It also affected the [[BBC World Service]]'s English-language programme ''[[Sportsworld (radio programme)|Sportsworld]]'', which was not aired on that day and was instead replaced with alternative programming.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC boss apologises for sport disruption but will not resign|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/entertainment-arts-64895316|work=BBC News|access-date=11 March 2023}}</ref> The BBC and Lineker issued coordinated statements on 13 March.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statements from BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Gary Lineker |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/statements/director-general-tim-davie-gary-lineker |website=BBC Media Centre |access-date=13 March 2023}}</ref> Lineker's suspension was ended and the BBC announced it would initiate an independent review of its social media guidelines and how they apply to freelancers outside news.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 March 2023 |title=Lineker 'delighted' to return as BBC reviews social media rules |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/entertainment-arts-64938252 |access-date=13 March 2023}}</ref> The BBC's director-general, [[Tim Davie]], stated that Lineker had agreed to abide by the corporation's editorial guidelines until the review into them has been completed.<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/>

Since the controversy, Lineker has continued to use Twitter to comment on political issues. On 21 November 2023, he tweeted: "Worth 13 minutes of anyone's time." The tweet was accompanied by a link to an interview between [[Owen Jones]] and [[Raz Segal]], in which Segal stated that Israel's actions in the [[Gaza war]] were "a textbook case of genocide". Lineker's tweet was interpreted by some to be an endorsement of Segal's views.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dominic|last=Penna|date=21 November 2023|title=Gary Lineker endorses video that accuses Israel of 'textbook genocide'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/21/bbc-lineker-israel-hamas-textbook-genocide-raz-segal/|website=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231121204420/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/21/bbc-lineker-israel-hamas-textbook-genocide-raz-segal/|archive-date=21 November 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Laurence|last=Sleator|date=22 November 2023|title=BBC staff's anger after Lineker shares Israel-Gaza 'genocide' video|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/gary-lineker-israel-genocide-gaza-tweet-sk8zm0236|website=[[The Times]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231122213313/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/gary-lineker-israel-genocide-gaza-tweet-sk8zm0236|archive-date=22 November 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jake|last=Kanter|date=22 November 2023|title=BBC's Best-Paid Presenter Gary Lineker Appears To Endorse "Genocide" Claim Against Israel|url=https://deadline.com/2023/11/gary-lineker-endorse-genocide-claims-against-israel-bbc-1235633945/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122124922/https://deadline.com/2023/11/gary-lineker-endorse-genocide-claims-against-israel-bbc-1235633945/|archive-date=22 November 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|first=Gary|last=Lineker|user=GaryLineker|number=1726984161905545305|title=Worth 13 minutes of anyone's time.|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231121213125/https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1726984161905545305|archive-date=21 November 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> 

In December 2023, Lineker signed an open letter criticising the government's proposal to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/11/gary-lineker-and-brian-cox-back-call-to-scrap-rwanda-scheme | title= Gary Lineker and Brian Cox back call to scrap Rwanda scheme | work=The Guardian | first=Charlie | last=Moloney | date=11 December 2023 | access-date=18 June 2024}}</ref> Defence Secretary [[Grant Shapps]], Conservative Party deputy chairman [[Lee Anderson (British politician)|Lee Anderson]], and [[Jonathan Gullis]] accused him of violating impartiality and lodged a complaint with the BBC.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67701186|title=Gary Lineker seemed to break rules, next BBC chairman says|work=BBC News|first=Graeme|last=Baker|date=13 December 2023|accessdate=13 December 2023}}</ref>