The strained relationship between the BBC and Gary Lineker has resurfaced ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The British organisation has reportedly refused to fund Alan Shearer and Micah Richards’ travel to the USA if they appear on Lineker’s podcast.
The relationship between the BBC and its former presenter Gary Lineker has been strained for some time, and it has once again come into the limelight ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
According to recent reports, the BBC has made it clear that it will not use its own funds to support Lineker’s popular podcast, The Rest is Football, even though two of its own experts, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, are part of the show.
Although Shearer and Richards will work for the BBC during the World Cup, they are also expected to appear on Lineker’s podcast. The show is made by Goalhanger, a company Lineker co-owns. However, the BBC has said that if Shearer or Richards travel to New York to record the podcast, the organisation will not pay for it.
Why the BBC has distanced itself from Lineker’s new show
This decision is being seen as the BBC trying to avoid helping Lineker’s big Netflix deal, which will turn The Rest is Football into a daily studio show during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. BBC officials have clarified that public money will not be used to support Lineker’s private venture.
Shearer is expected to be in North America for the whole tournament as the BBC’s main co-commentator. Richards, on the other hand, is expected to travel between the US and the UK throughout the competition.
This is very different from Euro 2024, where Lineker, Shearer and Richards were often together in Germany. During that tournament, The Rest is Football made more headlines than the BBC’s own coverage at times. Reports suggest that BBC bosses don’t want that to happen again but they are okay with the two appearing on Lineker’s show.
Lineker’s time with the BBC ended last year after several controversies. The final one was when he shared a social media post about Zionism that included a rat image, which many people saw as antisemitic. Lineker said he did not mean to share anything offensive, but the reaction was strong and he left the BBC soon after.
Since then, the former England footballer has started his own podcast and is set to go up against his former employers during the World Cup, with his coverage appearing on Netflix.
