Gary Lineker accused of breaking BBC rules in new row involving Match of the Day host

Gary Lineker has been accused of breaking BBC guidelines due to the Match of the Day presenter’s latest social media activity.

Back in March, Lineker landed himself in hot water after taking to Twitter to liken the government's new asylum policy to Nazi Germany.

Back then, the former England striker stepped back from presenting Match of the Day.

Lineker was later back in the Match of the Day hot seat after talks with the BBC.

Now, Lineker has been accused of breaking BBC rules in his latest tweet about Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

After Shapps said Lineker should stick to football, the Match of the Day presenter took to social media and said: “A tad rich coming from someone who can't even stick to one name. 4 chaps Shapps.”

Shapps was previously accused of breaking the code of conduct for ministers and MPs after he allegedly used the pseudonyms Michael Green, Sebastian Fox and Corinne Stockheath.

Now, the next chairman of the BBC, Samir Shah has said that Lineker’s latest tweet appears to breach the broadcaster’s guidelines.

Speaking at a pre-appointment hearing, Shah told MPs: “I don't think it was very helpful either for Gary Lineker or the BBC or the cause he supports because it becomes a story about Gary Linker and the BBC. As far as I'm aware, the signing of the letter did not breach those guidelines.

“But the more recent tweet in which he identifies a politician does, on the face of it, seem to breach those guidelines. I'm not sure how egregious it is but I imagine the BBC is looking into it and considering its response.”

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Shah continued: “I think it's our duty to monitor and see how well guidelines are delivering their purpose. I do think we need to find a solution to this because it doesn't help anyone and it does damage the reputation of the BBC if we are constantly in this round, not just with this particular presenter or not.

“The BBC's reputation matters and this isn't helpful and we do need to find a solution to it and if I were to be chair I would be keen to bring about a solution.”

SPORTbible has contacted Gary Lineker’s representatives for comment.

Earlier in the week, Lineker was accused of breaching BBC’s impartiality rules by MP Jonathan Gullis after he added his name to an open letter criticising immigration policy.

In response, Lineker said: “Jonathan hasn’t read the new guidelines….or, should I say, had someone read them to him?”