Gary Lineker makes shock BBC return 14 months after acrimonious exit

Gary Lineker made an unexpected reappearance on BBC Sport on Saturday night, more than a year after his acrimonious departure from the corporation, by gatecrashing the broadcaster’s reaction coverage of England’s World Cup quarter-final win over Norway.

England beat Norway 2-1 in Miami to book their place in the World Cup semi-final, with Jude Bellingham scoring both goals for Thomas Tuchel’s side. The BBC ran a reaction show after the match, with ITV having held the live broadcast rights to the fixture itself.

Wayne Rooney and Ellen White were presenting the studio analysis, joined remotely by Micah Richards dialling in from New York. Midway through the programme, as Richards discussed a contentious refereeing decision, Lineker suddenly appeared in shot wearing an England shirt.

An unannounced cameo

Richards had been giving his verdict on referee Clement Turpin’s decision to overturn a penalty award, after ruling that Djed Spence had initiated contact with Oscar Bobb before going down. It was at that moment Lineker leant into frame and declared: “Definitely a penalty. Come on England. Nice to see you all there.”

The moment appeared to catch Richards off guard. Lineker made a swift exit from the shot soon after delivering his verdict, with Rooney unable to resist a parting dig at his old Match of the Day colleague, quipping: “Kit looks a bit snug there, Gaz.”

The 65-year-old left the BBC around 14 months ago amid a well-documented and controversial exit from the broadcaster, having fronted Match of the Day and its major tournament coverage for decades. His brief return, however fleeting, marked his first appearance on BBC Sport screens since that departure.

Bellingham the hero again

The cameo came against the backdrop of another significant night for England at the tournament. Bellingham’s brace settled a tight quarter-final in which Erling Haaland was substituted before the end despite Norway chasing an equaliser, and in which Norway head coach Stale Solbakken was seen reacting furiously on the touchline as England found their breakthrough.

Tuchel’s side have now advanced to the World Cup semi-finals, continuing England’s push for a first world title, and the manager was pressed afterwards on his side’s performance in a pointed interview with ITV in which he demanded more from his players despite the result.

Read more: How much do England players earn at the World Cup? Bonuses explained

Whether Lineker’s cameo signals any wider thaw in his relationship with the BBC remains unclear, with the broadcaster yet to comment further on the appearance. For now, it stands as a curious footnote to another dramatic night of World Cup football for England.

Sources

• dailymail.com
• The Mirror

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.