Lineker replacements that have faced bias accusations and broken BBC rules almost as much as him

Following the announcement, all eyes are on Lineker's replacement.

The bookies' favourites to replace him all bring something different to the table but many have one thing in common: they have either broken broadcaster rules, got a slap on the wrist or faced allegations of bias at some point in their careers.

Let's take a closer look at the contenders and their violations.

Alex Scott

Former Lioness Alex scott is among the front-runners to replace Lineker.

The 40-year-old is currently the host of Football Focus and has been working with the broadcaster ever since 2019.

In 2022, during the World Cup Qatar, Scott was cautioned by BBC bosses for breaching their impartiality guidelines by promoting her Reiss outfit on social media.

This was seen as a violation of BBC's rules against promoting commercial deals on air or through related social media posts.

The Football Focus host faced accusations of political bias during her World Cup coverage.

Scott's decision to wear a 'OneLove' rainbow armband out of support for diversity and inclusion was met with mixed reactions regarding the BBC's impartiality stance.

In March 2023, following Gary Lineker's suspension from "Match of the Day" over critical comments he made about the government's asylum policies on social media, Scott indicated she would not step in to present the show in solidarity with Lineker, which led to allegations of a left-leaning bias.

Gabby Logan

Gabby Logan is a prominent sports presenter on the BBC and one of the bookie's favourites to replace Lineker.

She earned plaudits for her coverage of the Paris Olympics as one of the main presenters and is a regular stand-in for Lineker on MOTD.

Her years spent at the BBC haven't been entirely without criticism or scrutiny.

During the Paris 2024 Olympics coverage, Gabby Logan used the phrase "c**k up" twice to describe a mishap in a relay race, which was before the BBC's 9pm watershed when such language is generally more restricted.

This led to some viewer complaints for its perceived rudeness, but Logan defended her usage by explaining the historical meanings of the phrase, suggesting it wasn't as crude as some might think.

Logan also potentially came into the public's firing line after publicly defending her colleague Clare Balding after she attracted criticism for expressing surprise over the lack of Olympic athlete visits to state schools, which some viewers interpreted as classist.

Logan countered this by sharing her experience at a state school, indicating that such experiences do not universally reflect the BBC's perspective.

The TV presenter also claimed she received a slap on the wrist from a BBC executive back in 2013 for the way she was dressed.

"A boss at the BBC once told me that I was too glamorous and pointed to my high-heeled boots," Logan told Radio Times.

"I said: 'I've just come from a radio show, it's what I wear'. He said: 'You don't wear them when you do the dishes, do you?'"

Logan said: "Does he want me to look like I'm doing the dishes? I'm not here to look like a housewife.

"If I'm at home in my pyjamas I want to see something a bit more aspirational on TV. It's right that people on primetime look after their appearance."

Gary Neville

Gary Neville is also tipped to take the top job.

The former Manchester United footballer and Sky Sports pundit has faced scrutiny for his involvement in various media roles, particularly regarding allegations of bias or breaches of broadcasting rules.

During the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Neville made comments on ITV comparing the UK Government's treatment of striking workers to the human rights issues in Qatar.

He also criticised the working conditions in Qatar as "abhorrent" and said that low pay, poor accommodation, and poor working conditions should not be accepted.

This led to over 440 complaints to Ofcom, criticising his mixing of political commentary with sports broadcasting.

Neville has been very vocal on social media and in public forums about political issues, particularly against the Conservative Government's policies.

This has led to accusations of bias, especially when he appears in roles where impartiality is expected. His support for Labour and his critiques of the "Tories and the system" in relation to decisions like the removal of Gary Lineker from "Match of the Day" highlights his political stance, which might not sit well with all viewers or regulatory bodies if expressed inappropriately during broadcasts.

Mark Chapman

Mark Chapman, often known as "Chappers," is a prominent sports presenter for both the BBC and Sky Sports.

He is the main presenter of Match of the Day 2 presenter and one of the frontrunners to replace Lineker.

Chapman did not comment on Lineker's suspension following hos social media comments about the government's asylum policies but showed solidarity by not participating in his regular BBC duties, including his radio show on 5 Live Sport.

This was read at the time as tacit agreement with Lineker's views and left him exposed to charges of bias, though it wasn't a direct defence of Lineker's specific comments.