Ian Wright: ‘I’m out, I’m gone if BBC get rid of Gary Lineker’

Former England footballer Ian Wright has said on his podcast that he is “out” and “gone” if the BBC “get rid” of Gary Lineker from presenting its flagship soccer programme.

In an episode of Wrighty’s House, aired on Friday before Lineker was told to step back from presenting Match Of The Day (MOTD), Wright called the tweet row “the perfect distraction” for the British government.

Lineker (62) became embroiled in a row over impartiality after comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany on Twitter.

The BBC said it had “decided” Lineker would take a break from presenting the highlights programme until an “agreed and clear position” on his use of social media had been reached.

Former England footballers and MOTD regulars including Alan Shearer and Wright announced on Friday that they would be boycotting the show in solidarity with Lineker.

In the Friday episode of Wrighty’s House, the podcast’s host said: “I’ll tell you something. If they do – the BBC get rid of Gary Lineker – I’m out, I’m gone. I’m not staying there. On his own platform he should be able to say what he wants to say.”

Explaining the row, Wright said: “He wrote a tweet criticising the government about everything that’s happening, the human rights issues and everything here and it’s the perfect distraction for this government, man.

“Gary’s tweet was the headline news, bro.”

New episode on @ringerpodcasts!@IanWright0 is joined by @FloydTweet and @MayowaQuadri_:- The Let Girls Play campaign- Diacre dismissed by France- Europa League thoughts- Chelsea turning things around?- and more!https://t.co/AaKXYKdIJd pic.twitter.com/KCm3Jat23U

— Wrighty's House (@WrightysHouse) March 10, 2023

He went on: “They need Gary