Gary Lineker has vowed to apologise for his inadvertent balding jibe at Frank Lampard on Wednesday night, admitting ‘it came out a bit wrong’.
The pair were part of BBC’s punditry panel for the 5pm European Championship offering between hosts Germany and Hungary, alongside England legend Alex Scott and Brentford boss Thomas Frank.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side continued their ominous form with a 2-0 win over Hungary, making it seven goals and six points from two games to book their spot in the second round already.
Speaking after the match, Lineker told viewers that footage of Germany supporters wildly celebrating a goal was recorded from the nearby event space. A large screen, however, separated the studio from the park.
‘I wish they’d take that screen down, then we’d see all the punters,’ Lineker said. ‘But if they took the screen down, they wouldn’t be able to watch the game.’
Gary Lineker appeared to aim a balding jibe at Frank Lampard – to the Chelsea great’s shock
Seconds before, Lampard had smiled after making a joke about the view from the BBC studio
Lampard then responded: ‘The back of our heads… who wouldn’t turn up for that?’
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Gary Lineker appears to aim ‘SAVAGE’ balding jibe at Frank Lampard during BBC’s Euro 2024 coverage
In a brutal and unprovoked riposte, Lineker took a swipe at Lampard’s hair saying: ‘No one wants to see the back of your head these days, do they Frank? That’s for sure!’
Lineker has since mentioned the gaffe on his The Rest Is Football Podcast, explaining that he actually ‘meant it about everyone’.
‘Obviously Frank’s slightly thinning, I’m slightly thinning, and I actually meant it about everyone,’ the former England, Tottenham and Barcelona star said.
‘But when it came out, it came out a bit wrong. And you know Frank does that thing where he smiles, and then he suddenly doesn’t smile?
‘Frank’s great fun, he won’t mind. I must admit, when I got back to the hotel I saw it on social media and thought, “Oh you f*****g idiot.”
‘I felt really bad, I’ll have to apologise. I will apologise because it wasn’t deliberate but I get how funny it was. Those things happen on live TV.’
Lineker found himself in relatively hot water earlier in the tournament after viewers suggested that he may have breached BBC rules with his sartorial choices.
Lineker told The Rest Is Football that he intends to apologise to Lampard about his inadvertent jibe
Germany beat Hungary 2-0 to seal their spot in the last-16 of Euro 2024 after just two matches
The footballer-turned-presenter has his own range of apparel at Next, and worse what appeared to be two items from the collection on live broadcast for England’s clash with Serbia last week.
BBC guidelines state that presenters should not ‘appear on-air wearing clothing or using products or services which they have agreed/been contracted to promote, advertise or endorse or in which they have a specific financial interest.’
The green shirt and jacket combo in question is modelled by Lineker on Next’s online store, retailing at £16 and £55.
BBC rules stipulate that presenters should declare any deals or endorsements to promote clothing.
Lineker was also in trouble with animal rights activists PETA over the collection, after modelling a mohair jacket, which the organisation said is ‘made from the hair of abused goats’.
Previously, the Match of the Day Host got into hot water during the 2018 World Cup for promoting a TM Lewin Shirt on Instagram that he wore on-air after becoming the face of the clothing brand.
Lineker is alleged to have broken BBC guidelines by wearing his own range of Next menswear while live on-air during England’s opening Euros game
The BBC branded it a ‘genuine mistake’ after they acknowledged it breached company guidelines.
Lineker told OK! Magazine: ‘I’ve always got my own clothes and I’ve always dressed myself on television. There’s no wardrobe budget at BBC Sport so we all dress ourselves.’
