Gary Lineker, the previous England striker and podcast host, faces potential limitations to getting into the USA as a result of his outspoken social media criticism of President Donald Trump. This improvement raises vital issues for Netflix, the place Lineker not too long ago secured a high-value contract for his widespread podcast, The Relaxation Is Soccer.
Lineker, aged 65, departed the BBC final yr after a 25-year stint as host of Match of the Day. Regardless of his exit, his media profession thrives via profitable podcasts. In December, he inked a considerable take care of Netflix to develop his present, with plans to broadcast stay from the 2026 World Cup in the USA beginning this summer season. Associates describe this as a really perfect alternative for Lineker, who thrives on protecting main sporting occasions.
Visa Hurdles Stem from Social Media Exercise
Executives at Netflix categorical deep apprehension over Lineker’s on-line posts, which steadily goal Trump. Current U.S. Customs and Border Safety proposals, unveiled in December, mandate that visa candidates from the UK submit their social media historical past from the previous 5 years. Officers goal to display for content material that may threaten nationwide pursuits or categorical anti-American sentiments.
Incidents already spotlight the dangers: vacationers have confronted visa revocations at borders after authorities found anti-Trump memes on their units. Commentators warn that vocal critics like Lineker might encounter outright entry bans. The U.S. authorities emphasizes these measures shield Individuals from potential hurt.
Lineker reveals no indicators of tempering his views. Simply final Sunday, he posted to his 1.4 million Instagram followers, decrying Trump’s newly shaped Board of Peace—which oversees the Gaza peace initiative and world peacekeeping efforts—as “unashamedly useless” and “absurd.” He additionally shared a satirical video from the political group Led By Donkeys mocking the board.
A supply inside Netflix reveals inner discussions concerning the venture’s viability. “The deliberate Gary Lineker World Cup protection from New York this yr sparks actual fears from our authorized crew that he may not safe a U.S. visa or achieve entry,” the supply states. “This state of affairs would show disastrous, extremely costly, and profoundly embarrassing for the platform. Given Lineker’s sturdy left-leaning stance, which contrasts sharply with Trump’s, the President may goal him immediately.”
The supply provides: “It might characterize an entire disaster, but Lineker persists along with his unfiltered social media exercise.”
Lineker’s historical past contains prior clashes with the BBC. In March 2023, he drew suspension for likening the UK’s asylum insurance policies to Thirties Germany. Stricter social media tips adopted, however one other put up in Might final yr—sharing content material on Zionism that includes a rat illustration, seen as an anti-Semitic image—led to his dismissal. He issued an unreserved apology for that incident.
Broader Implications for Netflix’s Enterprise Strikes
Past the visa problem, Netflix grapples with bigger stakes. The corporate pursues a significant acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, and Lineker’s public assaults on Trump might complicate regulatory approval, particularly if the President influences the method.
“Lineker’s direct assaults on Trump and his administration danger being considered as broader anti-U.S. rhetoric, doubtlessly derailing the deal,” the Netflix supply explains. “If Trump intervenes, issues might come up. His Instagram presence has became a significant frustration for the crew.”
Inner Tensions at Goalhanger Podcasts
Lineker additionally navigates friction inside his manufacturing firm, Goalhanger Podcasts. Some crew members accuse him of hypocrisy in dealing with movie star scandals, significantly involving David Beckham’s household.
Following Brooklyn Beckham’s Instagram outburst in opposition to his estranged mother and father final month, Goalhanger rushed an “emergency episode” of The Relaxation Is Leisure to dissect the 26-year-old’s claims. Whereas different shops, together with the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4, produced comparable content material, insiders at Goalhanger view Lineker’s resolution as opportunistic.
This comes after Lineker lambasted media shops final yr for publicizing a vacation picture of him along with his daughter-in-law in Mexico, decrying privateness invasions. “He condemned the press for that publicity however eagerly produced the Beckham episode,” notes an insider from the corporate’s South London base. “Not less than two workers members voiced sturdy objections, fearful it exploited the household’s turmoil, however Lineker proceeded regardless.”
The insider continues: “He is vocal in opposition to sure media practices, but dove into the Beckham story with out hesitation. Lineker calls for privateness for himself however extends none to the Beckhams.”
Co-host Richard Osman opted out of the episode, leaving Marina Hyde to host solo. Although Osman later touched on the subject, he burdened his disinterest within the feud. “Osman stood by his ideas,” the insider observes. “Lineker may study from his strategy.”
As Lineker’s Netflix enterprise looms, these challenges underscore the fragile steadiness between private expression {and professional} calls for within the high-stakes world of world media.
