Gary Lineker is reportedly set to make an appearance as a pundit on ITV for the World Cup this weekend, marking a significant blow to the BBC. The former Match of the Day host is currently in New York, where he is presenting daily episodes of Rest is Football for Netflix.
According to The Independent, Lineker will feature on ITV as a pundit for Saturday night's Group E fixture between Germany and Ivory Coast. The move sees him align with the BBC's direct rivals, just over a year after departing his former employers.
Departure from BBC
Following his departure as Match of the Day presenter, the original intention had been for him to remain with the BBC for their World Cup coverage. However, the decision to sever all ties with the broadcaster was confirmed in May last year.
Studio Criticism
The development comes amid criticism directed at the BBC over their World Cup studio, which is based in Salford rather than in America, where the tournament is being held. ITV, by contrast, are broadcasting from a rooftop studio boasting a stunning New York skyline backdrop.
Back in April, Lineker appeared to take a swipe at the BBC regarding their studio setup. "I was originally going to do it for the BBC, this summer, but that didn't transpire and I would have been in Salford in a green box and now I'm going to be in New York City overlooking Times Square with lots of great guests," he said.
That prompted a response from BBC's director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski. "It's not a green box in Salford," he said. "It's a beautiful state-of-the-art studio. No one's seen it until now. It's completely fine to assume that what was there before was what it was going to be. And I'm really proud of this."
"The actual end product people are getting at home, I don't really think it's that different," Kay-Jelski added. "If these people were sitting somewhere else, would your viewing be massively changed? If I was standing here saying, 'Everything is going to be done from a studio in Dallas', you would rightly be saying to me, 'How can you justify that spend?'"
Praise for ITV
Earlier this week, Lineker moved to praise ITV for not exploiting the controversial three-minute hydration breaks in each half to cut to advertisement breaks, as some broadcasters have chosen to do. "I want to give, actually, ITV a pat on the back here, because I think they could have taken that option, I don't know, but they're not," he said on The Rest is Football. "So, you know, well done for not doing that, ITV, because I'm sure it would be tempting. Is it the corporate world that we're living in, in football now, the Americanisation of our sport, possibly?"
Group E Fixtures
Both Germany and the Ivory Coast emerged victorious in their opening Group E fixtures. Germany thrashed Curacao 7-1, while the Ivory Coast secured a late 1-0 victory over Ecuador.
