Gary Lineker is set to make a shock appearance on ITV's coverage of the World Cup match between Germany and the Ivory Coast tonight. The former Match of the Day host has not appeared on terrestrial television since his high-profile departure from the BBC over a year ago.
A Sudden Return to Terrestrial TV
Lineker was due to front a seventh and final World Cup for the BBC this summer, marking the end of a nearly three-decade association with the broadcaster. However, his exit was expedited last year after he became embroiled in an antisemitism controversy. The 65-year-old shared a video on Instagram from the group Palestine Lobby, which read: 'Zionism explained in two minutes' and featured an illustration of a rat, historically used as an anti-Semitic slur. Lineker deleted the post, issued an apology, and soon after announced he was cutting ties with the BBC prematurely.
Despite this, the former England captain has made it to the World Cup in North America. He is currently presenting 'The Rest is Football' on Netflix alongside former BBC colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. Their studio in Times Square, New York, is just a stone's throw away from the stunning rooftop studio in Brooklyn where ITV has set up for the tournament.
What Role Will Lineker Play?
It has been widely reported that Lineker will be part of ITV1's coverage of Germany vs Ivory Coast, which begins at 8pm UK time tonight. At the time of writing, it is not clear how much Lineker will be involved. Some reports claim he is making a cameo appearance, while others suggest he will be there throughout as a pundit. The former Three Lions striker, whose record of 10 World Cup goals was equalled by Harry Kane during England's win over Croatia last week, was not named among ITV's punditry team for the tournament. However, guest pundits are nothing new, and Lineker is also hosting a new ITV gameshow, 'The Box', set to air in September.
Lineker's Criticism of BBC's Approach
At the start of the tournament, Lineker shared his admiration for ITV's scenic studio while criticising the BBC's decision to stay at home and use a 'green box' in Salford. 'I am very surprised the Beeb are not coming,' Lineker said in an interview with The Telegraph. 'It doesn't make sense to me. I understand that whatever they do they get criticised because that is the nature of the BBC. But I must say this World Cup is the biggest deal over the next five or six weeks. It will probably get the vast majority of the most-watched television programmes of the year. Almost certainly therefore it justifies a presence. And they [the BBC] will cover it fine… but I have done many shows when we have not been able to go to tournaments and you are in a green box. Even if it looks like you are not at home – you are. And it's soulless.'
