Just a day after being told to “keep his political views to himself” by cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew, football host Gary Lineker has said that he thinks Brexit should be settled through the beautiful game.
Appearing as a guest host on BBC panel show ‘Have I Got News For You’ on Friday, the pundit suggested that the current Brexit deadlock could be broken by a penalty shootout between Remainers and Brexiteers.
Speaking on the series finale of the BBC One programme, the presenter was responding to comedian Tom Allen’s suggestion that the Queen should intervene over the current crisis.
Allen had been explaining to the studio audience why he was bored by the week’s political events, which saw Prime Minister Theresa May survive a confidence vote as leader of the Conservative party.
Allen said: “It’s all very boring though, isn’t it. It just goes on and on for so long. You sort of think, wouldn’t it be great if maybe the Queen could organise some sort of tie breaker, where they have to answer a question, or pull a cracker, or do some sort of Tough Mudder?”
Lineker replied: “A penalty shootout!”
Allen then responded: “A penalty shootout, I believe you would call it in your world, Gary. I don’t understand it myself.”
Lineker, a former footballer, has made no secret of views on Brexit and Theresa May in recent weeks and seemingly unimpressed, Test Match Special host Agnew told him: “I’d be sacked if I followed your example.”
It was unclear exactly which of Lineker’s tweets left Agnew disgruntled on Thursday, but the Walkers Crisps ambassador has shared numerous political posts recently, particularly as the UK has been plunged into crisis over Brexit:
Have I Got News For You airs tonight on BBC One at 9pm and anytime after on the iPlayer.
CORRECTION: This article was updated on 15 December to correct a mention to Jonathan Agnew as a football commentator. Agnew, of course, covers cricket.