Lineker, 62, did not present Match of the Day on Saturday night after the BBC announced he had taken a step back from the iconic show following comments he made about the government’s asylum policy.
But Lineker’s comments have drawn widespread comparison to remarks he made whilst fronting the BBC’s coverage at the World Cup in Qatar last year.
So, what exactly did Lineker say in Qatar last year?
What did Gary Lineker say about Qatar?
Lineker opened the BBC’s World Cup coverage with a monologue in the studio ahead of the first game of the tournament – Qatar vs Ecuador on November 20.
The piece to camera criticised Qatar’s human rights record, including the country’s ban on homosexuality and their treatment of migrant workers, as well as questioning the legitimacy of holding the tournament in the middle-eastern country.
Lineker said: ‘It’s the most controversial World Cup in history and a ball hasn’t even been kicked.
‘Ever since FIFA chose Qatar back in 2010, the smallest nation to have hosted football’s greatest competition has faced some big questions.
‘From accusations of corruption in the bidding process to the treatment of migrant workers who built the stadiums where many lost their lives.
‘Homosexuality is illegal here, women’s rights and freedom of expression are in the spotlight. Also the decision six years ago to switch the World Cup from summer to winter.
‘Against that backdrop there’s a tournament to be played, one that will be watched and enjoyed around the world. Stick to football say FIFA, well, we will, for a couple of minutes at least.’
The closing line was a reference to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who instructed everyone to ‘focus on the football’ in a controversial speech on the eve of the tournament.
The TV coverage then cut to a montage of some of the most iconic moments from the World Cup over the years.
Fellow pundits Alan Shearer, Alex Scott and Ashley Williams also went on to express their concern at Qatar hosting the tournament.
The quartet embarked on a wide-ranging discussion on the many issues surrounding the host nation, with very little time dedicated to the football in the build-up to the match.
The speech by Lineker at the Al Bayt stadium in Doha went ahead with the blessing of BBC bosses.
MORE : How much does Gary Lineker earn at the BBC and what is his net worth?
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