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Topics: Football, Premier League, Match Of The Day, Gary Lineker
Ryan Sidle
Topics: Football, Premier League, Match Of The Day, Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker's son George has revealed he expects his dad to quit Match of the Day when the current contract expires, following this weekend's debacle.
Lineker may not have known this much fame since he looked towards the England bench and warned them to be careful of Paul Gascoigne's tears in the 1990 World Cup semi-final.
In the past few days much of the news cycle has been about the former Tottenham Hotspur striker, first farcially so, as everyone appeared to focus on his comments on the government's policy on immigration rather than the policy itself, and then ridiculously, as the BBC stood him down from presenting duties.
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That decision, roundly criticised by pretty much everyone, even Piers Morgan, led to the near total falling apart of BBC's football coverage on Saturday.
Saturday's Match of the Day went commentaryless and the programme on Sunday, with four more games to show highlights of, will be going the same way.
Hopefully Lineker returns to the Beeb soon, especially with two live FA Cup games being hosted by the broadcaster next weekend, but it might not be for very long.
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The former Tottenham Hotspur striker's eldest son, George, has now revealed he doesn't expect his dad to be the presenter past the next two years.
"Dad doesn't know yet what the future holds for him, right now his contract is his contract," George told the Mirror.
"But - in the nicest of ways, and he won't mind me saying this - he is getting old. He's put in a great shift and when his contract expires he will be 64.
"I think maybe at that point he would want to work a bit less. But let's see what happens, it's early days, and it's for him to say what he does next."
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Lineker's deal is due to expire in 2025, presumably when the 2024/25 Premier League season is over, which could be his time to walk away.
According to reports, he could be owed millions by the BBC if they decide to sack him, partially due to when he signed his current deal with them.
It was two years before former Conservative council candidate Tim Davie took over as director general, and tried to get more 'impartiality' into the organisation.
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The 62-year-old has already reduced his presenting duties, after quitting BT Sport's coverage of the Champions League, so he could watch Leicester City play in Europe.