Gary Lineker’s new Twitter profile picture looks to be a veiled dig at the BBC.
The Match of the Day presenter has been caught in a feud with his superiors at the national network over social media remarks he made against the Tory government and its Illegal Migration Bill.
His post contrasted terminology used in relation to the Home Office’s migrant boat programme to Nazi Germany, eliciting both acclaim and condemnation.
After being forced to stand out from delivering his show due to an impartiality dispute, other presenters boycotted in solidarity.
Lineker’s return to hosting duties was announced on Monday, but a modification in his profile photo appears to indicate he still wants to make his voice known on the topic.
The former professional player, who has hosted Match of the Day since the late 1990s, has updated his Twitter profile with a new photo.
He appears in it in front of a plaque that cites George Orwell.
It reads: ‘If liberty means anything at all it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.’
The plaque is part of a tribute to the author outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House in London, which also features a statue of a former employee who worked there during WWII but left to focus on penning Animal Farm.
Erected in 2017, the project had initially stalled when it was reportedly rejected by the broadcaster because it was not supportive of celebrating ‘one of their more contrarian former employees’, as reported by The Guardian.
In a statement released on Monday, Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general, said he was ‘looking forward’ to Lineker ‘presenting our coverage this coming weekend’.
‘Gary is a valued part of the BBC and I know how much the BBC means to Gary,’ he also said.
Lineker added: ‘I am glad that we have found a way forward. I support this review and look forward to getting back on air.’
Taking to Twitter to sum up his thoughts, Lineker also thanked his colleagues for their show of support.
‘After a surreal few days, I’m delighted that we have navigated a way through this.
‘I want to thank you all for the incredible support, particularly my colleagues at BBC Sport, for the remarkable show of solidarity. Football is a team game but their backing was overwhelming.’
He also thanked Davie for his ‘understanding during this difficult period’.
Source My Celebrity Life.