Micah Richards teases Gary Lineker during BBC World Cup coverage
Micah Richards made a light-hearted remark aimed at Gary Lineker just eight minutes into the BBC’s opening World Cup match between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina, reports BritPanorama.
The former Manchester City defender was alongside Gabby Logan, Wayne Rooney, and Olivier Giroud in the studio. When Logan drew attention to the BBC’s large screen depicting New York, Richards quipped, “This is amazing. If you look over there you can, I think you can see Gary Lineker.”
His comment elicited laughter from the panel, with Logan humorously retorting, “Same initials. Different person.” Lineker departed from the BBC entirely in May 2025 following a controversial social media post, resulting in Logan stepping into his role for World Cup presenting duties.
Richards, who regularly appears on Sky Sports during the Premier League season, is balancing his time between the BBC’s UK-based studio and Lineker’s Rest is Football podcast in Manhattan during the tournament. Meanwhile, Lineker is now hosting alongside Alan Shearer and Richards from a Times Square studio for Netflix.
Prior to Richards’ comedic jibe, Logan had taken an earlier dig at him, noting, “It’s an eighth World Cup for Micah Richards watching on TV. We know you’ve been out in New York this week, and I admire your commitment, but you didn’t actually need to acclimatise because I’m bringing New York to you right here.”
The large screen was introduced as part of the BBC’s strategy to counter criticism over their decision to broadcast from the UK rather than sending a team to America, as rival broadcasters have done.
Despite his busy schedule in the US during the tournament, Richards acknowledges the challenges it presents. Lineker has been outspoken regarding the BBC’s choice to stay in its Salford headquarters instead of covering the event on location. He expressed surprise, saying, “I am very surprised the Beeb are not coming. It doesn’t make sense to me… this World Cup is the biggest deal over the next five or six weeks.”
As the tournament unfolds, the interplay of sports and media will continue to attract attention. Richards and Lineker’s dynamic highlights the competitive nature of sports broadcasting and the importance of visibility during major events.
