BBC staff furious at latest Gary Lineker 'rule breach' with broadcaster accused of 'turning a blind eye'
BBC staff are said to be furious after Gary Lineker appeared to breach the rules once again
BBC
BBC staff have accused the broadcaster of turning a 'blind eye' to Gary Lineker and his rule breaches, according to reports.
The 63-year-old is currently facing scrutiny after he was alleged to have broken BBC guidelines by appearing to wear his own range of Next menswear during England's narrow 1-0 win over Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday night.
The presenter wore a pale green T-shirt and sage jacket as he hosted the show, with England winning courtesy of a thunderbolt header from Jude Bellingham in the 13th minute.
It has since been uncovered that Lineker's look was identical to a £16 T-shirt and £55 jacket he is pictured advertising on Next's website.
BBC staff are said to be furious after Gary Lineker appeared to breach the rules once again
BBC
Per BBC guidelines, presenters should not go on-air wearing clothing or using products or services which they have agreed or been contracted to promote, advertise or endorse.
According to The Times, staff are furious at Lineker's apparent latest breach of the rules.
"Staff are really resentful at how much he is protected," an insider is quoted as saying.
"He literally has carte blanche. The BBC response is to turn a blind eye.
"They won't even say whether they will speak to him."
Lineker often goes casual when presenting Match of the Day, a show he's hosted ever since 1999.
The former Tottenham, Leicester and Barcelona star previously said he wasn't allowed to wear the colour green due to the fact MOTD is filmed via green screen.
He told the Guardian last year: "Match of the Day is a green screen so it's like a virtual reality show.
"You can't wear green, you can't wear white, you can't wear patterns. That means it's unbelievably restrictive.
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Gary Lineker has been criticised after appearing to wear clothes he promotes for Next while working for the BBC
NEXT
"The cameras can't cope. You've basically got plain dark colours, or light blue."
But rules appear to have been relaxed for the current European Championships, with Lineker wearing green while presenting England's win over Serbia.
Animal rights activists PETA are unhappy with Lineker, too.
The ex-England striker has modelled a mohair jacket, with PETA saying is 'made from the hair of abuse goats'.
Lineker previously found himself in trouble back in 2018 while presenting the 2018 World Cup.
He promoted a TM Lewin shirt on Instagram that he'd worn on-air for the BBC, with the broadcaster later saying it was a 'genuine mistake'.
Alex Scott and Dan Walker have also been accused of flouting the clothing rules in the past as well.
Meanwhile, Andrew Pierce has criticised Lineker for his alleged rule breach.
The GB News presenter said: "He's a shocker, Lineker, rules don't apply to him.
“He’s wearing stuff that he’s been paid to promote. It’s an outrage. He drives a coach and horses through guidelines.
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Gary Lineker appeared to flout the rules as England beat Serbia 1-0 with Jude Bellingham scoring the only goal of the game
PA
“He’s effectively giving an endorsement worldwide.”
He added: “He just takes the mick out of us. Good on Nigel Farage and his Reform manifesto, pledging to get rid of the BBC licence fee.”