Gabby Logan has issued a response to former BBC presenter Gary Lineker after he appeared to criticize the company’s decision to remain in Britain for the World Cup.
Gabby Logan responds to Gary Lineker about the BBC’s World Cup coverage plans (Image: Getty Images)
Gabby Logan has staunchly defended the BBC’s decision to have a work-from-home World Cup studio after Gary Lineker described it as a “green box in Salford”.
Last month, former BBC presenter Lineker ridiculed the company and boasted that being made redundant meant he could spend a tournament in New York. He added that he had no regrets about missing the BBC’s coverage of this summer’s tournament during an event held in London to launch Netflix Sports Club.
Mr Lineker, who last year lost his £1.35m-a-year job as the BBC’s highest-paid star, said: “I was originally going to be on the BBC this summer, but that didn’t happen, so I ended up in a green box in Salford and now I’m going to be in New York City, overlooking Times Square, with lots of great guests.”
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Now, Mr Logan, who is part of the BBC presenters for this summer’s North American World Cup, has responded to Mr Lineker and defended the company’s decision to remain in England until the final week of the five-and-a-half week tournament.
“This is how we did the Women’s World Cup,” Logan said. “We were in the studio in Salford and did the last Euro, the Women’s Euro, like this and then went out (to Switzerland) for the later stages.
“We have to think about that because it’s very expensive to bring a lot of people to big tournaments and, as you know, license fees are always tightening the belt.
“So there’s a lot of good reasons why we do that. And I think our coverage has been exceptional in those tournaments, and in the case of last week’s BAFTAs, we won awards. So I don’t think not being present for the entire tournament will have a negative impact on our coverage.”
Gabby Logan (Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus/Getty Images)
The BBC announced on Monday its star-studded line-up for this summer’s World Cup, with Rogan, Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Alex Scott among the selected presenters.
Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, Joe Hart, Paul Robinson, Steph Houghton, Ellen White and Danny Murphy are among the former England players chosen by the BBC pundits. Meanwhile, Scotland’s squad, who will be playing in their first World Cup since 1998, will be Scott Brown, Rachel Coursey and James McFadden.
Olivier Giroud, Gael Clichy, Cesar Azpilicueta, Benni McCarthy and Lucas Leyva have been signed to add a global touch to the BBC’s coverage. Former Tottenham and Brentford manager Thomas Frank and former Wales captain Ashley Williams will also provide analysis.
Former referee Darren Kang will also provide insight into all the big decisions in the US, Canada and Mexico. Can was featured on the BBC’s FA Cup final broadcast on Saturday, along with Rooney, Richards and Chapman.
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