Gary Lineker was accused of making a sarcastic joke at the expense of Steve Clarke (Picture: Getty)
Gary Lineker felt the wrath of Scotland fans after he was accused of making a ‘disrespectful’ joke at the expense of the Tartan Army’s manager Steve Clarke.
Match of the Day presenter, Lineker, had been in hot water just 24 hours earlier when he was accused of flouting BBC rules after he appeared to wear a green T-shirt from his Next clothing range.
The corporation’s rules state that its employees are prohibited from wearing clothes ‘which they have agreed, or been contracted, to promote or in which they have any financial interest.’
Unabashed, Lineker, who was fronting the BBC’s coverage of last night’s game between Portugal and Czech Republic, missed the mark with a sarcastic comment aimed at Clarke.
Scotland are preparing for their second match of the tournament against Switzerland this afternoon, hoping to bounce back from the mauling they suffered at the hands of Germany last Friday.
Clarke’s side were castigated for an insipid display which saw them collapse to a 5-1 defeat against the rampant hosts.
Scotland’s misery was compounded by the sending-off of defender Ryan Porteous who will now serve a two match suspension and will play no further part in the tournament unless his side progresses, in his absence, to the knockout phase.
Steve Clarke’s Scotland side face Switzerland in a vital Group A game at Euro 2024 (Picture: Getty)
Scotland are looking to bounce back from their 5-1 defeat against Germany (Picture: Getty)
Clarke, understandably, was in far from ebullient mood on Tuesday has he put the finishing touches to his side’s preparations for a potentially decisive game against Switzerland.
The former Chelsea defender gave an interview to Lineker’s colleague Eilidh Barbour and as the camera cut back to the studio, the 63-year-old former England striker said, in a sarcastic fashion ‘Well you’ve got to love Steve Clarke’s energy and enthusiasm’ before awkwardly outlining the lay of the land in Group A.
‘Here’s Gary Lineker being a t***. Do you think he’d say the same thing about boring, I’d-rather-watch-paint-dry Gareth Southgate? Doubt it,’ said one user on X.
‘Gary Lineker making sarcy comments about Steve Clarke’s ‘energy and enthusiasm.’ added another viewer. ‘When coaches are interviewed every day and asked the same predictable, inane questions every time, it’s little wonder they convey an impression of being bored. That’s because they *are* bored…’
‘Was that a dig by Gary Lineker at Steve Clarke? Unnecessary imo,’ said another BBC viewer, while another added ‘