Gary Lineker Criticizes BBC Over Social Media Restrictions Amid Controversy

Gary Lineker, former BBC presenter and ex-football star, has renewed his criticism of the BBC, accusing the network of shifting its policies on what employees can post on social media. Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Lineker said that for nearly two decades he was allowed to express what he described as "humanitarian" views, partly because he was not a news or current affairs employee. However, in 2019, the BBC expanded its political neutrality rules to cover more staff, which Lineker said was not part of his contract. He told the BBC's CEO he would be more cautious but continued to address refugee and humanitarian issues publicly.

Lineker emphasized that his social media activity is driven by humanitarian concerns rather than politics, stating, "If I see things that trouble me on a humanitarian level, it makes me want to use the platform I have." He acknowledged that people might disagree with him, which he accepts.

This latest controversy follows Lineker's recent sharing of a video by Tony Greenstein, a Jewish anti-Zionist activist recently acquitted of charges related to supporting Hamas. In the video, Greenstein controversially compared Zionism to Nazism, a comparison that sparked significant backlash. Lineker not only shared the video but also liked it.

This is not the first time Lineker's social media posts have caused uproar. In May 2025, he left the BBC after sharing a pro-Palestinian video featuring a rat symbol historically used in antisemitic propaganda. He apologized for the offense caused and described his resignation as "the responsible thing to do." Earlier, in 2023, he was briefly suspended from hosting "Match of the Day" after comparing UK government rhetoric on illegal immigration to Nazi language.

More than a year after leaving the BBC, Lineker insists he will not give up his freedom of expression, stating, "I still want to speak if I want to."