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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Lineker critical of Conservative politicians</li><li>May have broken BBC impartiality rules</li><li>Social media use may be investigated</li></ul>

Gary Lineker in hot water again? Match of the Day presenter 'broke BBC rules' with Rwanda bill tweets months after last social media furore

<p>Lineker is in the spotlight once again for his criticism of Conservative politicians. The television presenter took to social media and added his name to an open letter condemning the government's controversial Rwanda bill and calling on political leaders to scrap the scheme. Tory MP Jonathan Gullis hit back at the former footballer saying it was “yet another breach of the BBC’s impartiality rules by Gary Lineker”.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yet another breach of the BBC’s impartiality rules by <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryLineker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GaryLineker</a>. <br><br>But, sadly, spineless Tim Davie will do nothing about it, having surrendered to Lineker previously. <br><br> <a href="https://t.co/0qWkoRNOmk">https://t.co/0qWkoRNOmk</a></p>— Jonathan Gullis (@GullisJonathan) <a href="https://twitter.com/GullisJonathan/status/1734118860771450938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Samir Shah, the government's proposed new chair of the BBC, has said the corporation are likely to look into Lineker's comments to see if they breach social media guidelines. This is not the first time Lineker has found himself engaged in such a controversy. He <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/gary-lineker-axed-match-of-the-day-social-media-use/blt25786ec01e016870" target="_blank">was axed from Match of the Day</a> earlier this year after criticising the government's asylum seeker policy. The suspension caused a crisis at the BBC and affected their coverage as <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/match-of-the-day-meltdown-bbc-scrambling-find-gary-lineker-replacement-ian-wright-alan-shearer/blt63a66b792b263eb6" target="_blank">colleagues pulled out of programmes in support of Lineker</a>. The former <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/match-of-the-day-u-turn-gary-lineker-set-to-return-as-host-after-controversy/bltb3265f9137d3147c" target="_blank">England striker subsequently returned</a>, while the BBC updated their social media guidelines in a bid to try to prevent high-profile presenters from expressing strong political views.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Lineker has continued his war of words with Conserative politicians on social media. He posted the following response to Gullis: "Jonathan hasn’t read the new guidelines….or, should I say, had someone read them to him?"</p><p>The Match of the Day host also had a sharp reponse for defence secretary Grant Schapps, who had told him to "get on with commenting on football and stop meddling in these other areas".</p><p>Lineker posted on X: <span>"A tad rich coming from someone who can’t even stick to one name. 4 chaps Shapps.</span>"</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A tad rich coming from someone who can’t even stick to one name. 4 chaps Shapps. <a href="https://t.co/hjLL6VvZSh">https://t.co/hjLL6VvZSh</a> <a href="https://t.co/d6dvkE1B7M">pic.twitter.com/d6dvkE1B7M</a></p>— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1734194096816656606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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WHAT LINEKER HAS SAID

<p>Lineker will now have to wait and see if his actions have been deemed as breaking impartiality rules. Shah has told MPs that Lineker's decision to sign the letter criticising the Rwanda bill "did not breach those guidelines", but hinted that his subsequent post aimed at Schapps does "on the face of it, seem to breach those guidelines".</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR LINEKER?

Gary Lineker in hot water again? Match of the Day presenter 'broke BBC rules' with Rwanda bill tweets months after last social media furore | Goal.com

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has become embroiled in more controversy over his latest social media activity.

Gary Lineker in hot water again? Match of the Day presenter &apos;broke BBC rules&apos; with Rwanda bill tweets months after last social media furore