Gary Lineker has finally apologised to Frank Lampard two years after an unintentional dig at the Coventry City manager. The former England striker-turned-television presenter was left embarrassed during the BBC's European Championship coverage two years ago when he inadvertently made a comment about Lampard's thinning hair.
With Lineker now hosting his Rest is Football Podcast, operating in partnership with streaming giant Netflix, the 65-year-old finally had the opportunity to make it up to the former Chelsea and England midfielder when he appeared as a guest on the show.
The original incident took place during the closing stages of England's tournament at Euro 2024 in Germany, with the broadcasters' studio based in Berlin. The light-hearted remark came about as the pair joked about fans gathered below the studio being able to see the backs of their heads.
With the World Cup now well and truly under way, following victories for Mexico and South Korea in their opening matches, the Rest is Football panel got down to dissecting the action and key talking points. Before getting stuck into their analysis, however, Lineker took the opportunity to clear the air with the Coventry City manager.
He said: "It's starting to feel like a World Cup is taking place, joining us Frank Lampard and Joe Cole alongside Alan Shearer. Good thing those fans are down on street level otherwise they'd be looking at the back of our heads, Frank..." Lampard replied: "Have you gone there already?"
Lineker went on to explain: "For those who don't know, two years ago, the last time I saw you was on your final thing, we had a camera behind us and it showed behind us. I was concerned that I'm thinning a little bit on the top. I was saying, 'we don't really want that shot do, we?' and you (Frank Lampard) were next to me. You did that thing where you were smiling and went serious. I owe you an apology. It's taken me two years to do it."
Lampard was flanked by former Chelsea team-mate Joe Cole and Alan Shearer in New York, while Micah Richards joined proceedings via live stream, having returned to the United Kingdom where he contributes to BBC Sport's coverage, broadcasting live from Salford. The former England midfielder quipped: "You've sat me between Joe and Alan, I thought that was your version of an apology. I'm fine, my day job means they're looking at the back of my head so they let me know all the time, don't worry."
The incident went viral online, and Lineker addressed it during The Rest is Football's Euros coverage, saying: "I got myself in a bit of a pickle anyway, a little bit, with Frank Lampard. It's gone a little bit viral, I feel bad. I feel bad. We were at the end of the game, they showed one of Germany's goals then they cut to the celebration of the fans, in the fan park, and I said, 'that's behind us'.
"We could actually see them if it wasn't for the big screen then they've got to watch the game on that screen otherwise, they'd all be looking at the back of our heads.
"I meant it about all of us, and I said, 'we don't really want anyone looking at your head do you, Frank?' Obviously Frank's slightly thinning and I'm slightly thinning in my old age a bit. I meant it about everyone, when it came out, it came out a big wrong.
"You know Frank does that thing where he smiles and doesn't smile, Frank's great fun and I must admit when I got back to the hotel and I saw it on social media, I went, 'oh you f****** idiot. I feel really bad. I haven't seen him since I saw it went viral."
Two years on from the episode, Lampard also disclosed how Lineker reached out with words of comfort following Coventry's defeat in the Championship play-off semi-finals last season, which helped ease the blow. Nearly 12 months later, he steered the Sky Blues back to the Premier League after claiming the league title, bringing an end to their 25-year absence from the top flight.
