June 19th 2024.
Gary Lineker found himself facing criticism after some Scotland fans accused him of making a disrespectful joke at the expense of their national team's manager, Steve Clarke. The former footballer and current Match of the Day presenter had already been under fire for wearing a T-shirt from his own clothing line during a previous broadcast, which goes against BBC's rules for its employees.
Despite the backlash, Lineker continued to host the BBC's coverage of the Portugal vs Czech Republic game that took place last night. However, during the broadcast, he made a sarcastic comment directed at Clarke, which did not sit well with some viewers. Scotland was set to face Switzerland in their second match of the tournament, hoping to recover from their devastating loss against Germany just a few days earlier.
Unfortunately, things only got worse for Scotland as they suffered another defeat, this time against Switzerland. The team's performance was heavily criticized, with many pointing out their lackluster display and the red card received by defender Ryan Porteous. Clarke, understandably, was not in a cheerful mood as he prepared his team for the crucial match.
In an interview with Lineker's colleague, Eilidh Barbour, Clarke's serious demeanor was evident. However, when the camera cut back to the studio, Lineker made a sarcastic remark about the manager's "energy and enthusiasm." This did not go down well with some viewers, who saw it as unnecessary and disrespectful. They pointed out that coaches are often asked repetitive and uninteresting questions, which can make them appear bored, but that doesn't mean they lack passion for the game.
Some fans even compared Lineker's comment to how he would never make a similar one about England's coach, Gareth Southgate. Overall, the backlash towards Lineker was due to the perceived insensitivity and lack of respect towards Clarke and the Scottish team.
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