The BBC has confirmed it will not use licence fee money to subsidise pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards for their work on The Rest Is Football podcast, alongside former host Gary Lineker, during this summer's World Cup. The corporation's main presentation of the tournament will be broadcast from its studios in Salford, citing financial constraints and environmental considerations.
For Euro 2024, the trio recorded episodes of the podcast in Berlin, but Lineker's departure from the BBC last year and the decision to remain in the UK for the World Cup have created logistical challenges. While the BBC has stated that pundits are free to work on other media projects, it will not cover the associated costs.
As a result, Richards and Shearer may need to have their travel expenses covered by Goalhanger or Netflix, which recently agreed a £14 million deal to broadcast the podcast. Shearer, who will be based in North America for co-commentary duties, could meet Lineker in person, while Richards may participate via video call.
Current Match of the Day presenters Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates, and Gabby Logan are expected to handle the bulk of the BBC's presentation from Salford, with potential travel to North America in the later stages of the tournament. The BBC's decision comes after Lineker's exit from the corporation following a controversy over a social media post that included an image historically used as an anti-Semitic insult.
