Gary Lineker says BBC director-general Tim Davie has never asked him to 'tone down' tweets
Gary Lineker has claimed that the new director-general, Tim Davie, never asked him to “tone down” his tweets because the broadcaster 'trusts him'.
Lineker, 59, said the BBC knew that he tweeted “carefully” and trusted him on social media.
Asked if it was true that the director-general had spoken to him to ask that he tone down his tweets, The Match of The Day responded: “No, no. It’s never happened.”
He told the Times: “I think the BBC trust me. I know where the land lies — you can’t hold the BBC in disrepute. Even though I’m obviously freelance and I work for different people in different places I’ve always been respectful. I’ve never really had any issues and I don’t think I will in the future either.
He added: “I’ve never, ever said who I vote for in any election. I’m always asked to go on BBC news programmes. I always turn that down. I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.
The only political thing I tweeted about was Brexit/Remain [he’s a Remainer] and I actually stopped that when the election happened [in 2019]. I said at the time, ‘Right, everyone knows my views on that but I don’t want to talk about it any more, let them own it, let’s see what happens and I hope it’s really successful and it works.’ I have my doubts.”
It comes after Tim Davie’s said he would crack down on BBC stars who want to voice opinions or carry out “partisan campaigns” on social media.
He said in a speech on his third day in the role: “If you want to be an opinionated columnist or a partisan campaigner on social media then that is a valid choice, but you should not be working at the BBC.”
It was reported that new rules on the use of Twitter and other social media were set to be introduced at the corporation.
Lineker previously came under fire for his anti-Brexit tweets, when his BBC colleague, star cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew, publicly chastised him.
Mr Agnew wrote: “Gary. You are the face of BBC Sport. Please observe BBC editorial guidelines and keep your political views, whatever they are and whatever the subject, to yourself.
“I’d be sacked if I followed your example. Thanks.”
He then tweeted a link to Lineker of the BBC Editorial Guidelines.
But Lord Hall, the last director-general, had said previously that Lineker was free to state his opinions because he was not a news presenter.
Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis was also publicly reprimanded in May over a monologue attacking the Government response to Dominic Cummings’ Durham lockdown trip.
Earlier this week it was announced that the Lineker would be taking a £405,000 pay cut to £1.35 million, knocking him off the number one earning spot at the BBC.
He is now second behind Zoe Ball who earns £1.36 million.
