Lineker ditches his Next own-brand collection to present the Euros (2024)

Gary Lineker last night ditched his Next-own brand collection to present the Euros after he was accused of flouting BBC advertising rules.

The £1.35-million-a-year broadcaster, 63, wore a dark olive open-collared shirt as he introduced the Portugal v Czech Republic game.

MailOnline checked Lineker's clothing range on Next's website and it does not appear to be from the collection.

He was heavily criticised after he was alleged to have broken BBC guidelines on Sunday night by appearing to wear his own range of menswear during England's opening game against Serbia.

He was dressed in a pale green T-shirt and sage jacket while fronting the corporation's coverage which was beamed to nearly 15 million viewers.

They look identical to a £16 T-shirt and £55 jacket he is pictured advertising on the clothing brand's website.

LAST NIGHT --Gary Lineker last night ditched his Next-own brand collection to present the Euros, wearing a dark olive shirt which does not appear to be from his range

SUNDAY --He was heavily criticised after he was alleged to have broken BBC guidelines by appearing to wear his own range of menswear during England's opening game against Serbia

It is understood that BBC Sport bosses spoke to Lineker to remind him of the guidelines, according to The Telegraph.

The broadcaster did not reply when MailOnline asked them to confirm this.

BBC staff were said to be furious by Lineker's apparent disregard of the rules, with insiders claiming the former England striker can do whatever he wants.

Read More Gary Lineker has 'carte blanche' at the BBC, furious staff claim

'Staff are really resentful at how much he is protected,' a source told The Times.

'He literally has carte blanche. The BBC response is to turn a blind eye. They won't even say whether they will speak to him.'

Lineker has also angered viewers with one sarcastically asking if he will be eating crisps next in a nod to him famously once being the face of Walkers.

Others accused the BBC of being too weak and saying it probably won't punish their star.

Lineker often sports a casual look when he presents Match of the Day opting for dark-coloured open-collared shirts, but he has rarely been seen wearing T-shirts live on air before.

The former England striker usually goes for a more formal look of a full suit and tie when presenting finals, such as when Manchester United faced Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May.

Lineker has previously spoken about not being able to wear green and white clothing while presenting MOTD as 'the cameras can't cope' due to the studio's green screen background.

But the broadcaster's wardrobe has been set loose during the corporation's Euro 2024 coverage with a windowed studio being set up in Berlin near the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate.

Lineker launched his clothing line with the high street retailer in 2023 and models for the range online.

Mr Lineker was sporting a pale green T-shirt and sage jacket on Sunday night which appeared to be from his collection (pictured) with Next

Gary Lineker wearing his green shirt during the build-up to England's Euros opener

Lineker often wears dark-coloured open-collared shirts when presenting MOTD as the 'cameras can't cope' with white and green clothing due to the studio's green screen background

Alex Scott was given a telling off by the BBC after she promoted a clothes brand while on duty for the broadcaster during the World Cup in 2022

BBC rules stipulate that presenters should declare any deals or endorsem*nts to promote clothing.

MailOnline understands BBC Sports presenters wear their own clothes and are regularly reminded of the broadcaster's guidelines.

Speaking to The Guardian in April last year, Lineker said he always wears his own clothes when presenting MOTD with the only directive being 'to go for casual'.

Asked if there was anything he had to avoid wearing, he said: 'Match of the Day is a green screen so it's like a virtual reality show. You can't wear green, you can't wear white, you can't wear patterns. That means it's unbelievably restrictive. The cameras can't cope. You've basically got plain dark colours, or light blue.'

He also promoted his tie-up with Next during the interview, saying: 'I think it's because it's British – from Leicester. And then they came to us with a range and I kind of liked it.

Read More JAN MOIR: Gary Lineker could can-can in his green T-shirt and BBC bigwigs wouldn't bat an eyelid

'It's quite flattering that, in my grand old age, I can still do something like this.'

MailOnline previously contacted Lineker's representatives for comment, but are yet to receive a response.

During the 2022 World Cup, fellow presenter Alex Scott was warned by the BBC that she could not promote fashion brands while working for the broadcaster.

Ms Scott, who was an ambassador for Reiss, flaunted the rules after posting a selfie on Instagram, wearing a suit from the brand while in the BBC studio in Qatar.

Other presenters have been told off by the corporation for promoting products, goods and clothing they have used while on-air.

BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker was accused by The Times of wearing and posting about sponsored products while working on programming for the broadcaster including Strictly Come Dancing.

Other 'on-air' talent who have broken the rules include Countryfile's Helen Skelton, The Apprentice's Karren Brady and Top Gear's Paddy McGuiness.

Lineker has a long history of controversy - most of which involve criticism over allegedly breaching the BBC's social media guidelines.

Lineker ditches his Next own-brand collection to present the Euros (2024)
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