Des Lynam has shared his opinions on female pundits taking part in coverage and providing analysis on senior men’s football.
The topic hit headlines in 2024 following a public war of words between former footballer Joey Barton and women’s footballer-turned-pundit Eni Aluko.
Former Man City midfielder Barton criticised Aluko on social media for her punditry – as well as other female figures lending their expertise in coverage of men’s football.
His outbursts led to further abuse being aimed at Aluko and left the former England international to feel “genuinely scared” and even temporarily flee the country.
Barton’s remarks also prompted former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to publicly address the furore, and branded the debate “completely ridiculous”.
81-year-old Lynam has now waded into the debate, siding with the argument that pundits “have to have played it at the level you are talking about”.
Lynam said: “I’ve got no gripe with female presenters, but when you’re a pundit and you’re offering opinions about the game, you have to have played it at the level you are talking about – ie, the men’s game.”
The former Grandstand star left a lengthy pause in the interview with Radio Times before caveating: “In my view.”
Lynam fronted the BBC’s football coverage on Match of the Day for over a decade between 1988 and 1999 before making the switch to ITV.
At ITV, Lynam similarly spent five years presenting the channel’s football coverage while back at the Beeb, Gary Lineker took over MOTD presenting duties.
Lynam touched upon his BBC exit elsewhere in the interview with the publication, admitting he should’ve taken more time to contemplate his departure from the Beeb.
“They [the BBC] were overworking me at the time, I was doing everything, which was very complimentary but also wearing,” he said.
“ITV came in and offered much less work and extraordinary money, which I couldn’t refuse.
“With hindsight I should have thought about it a bit longer. I missed doing Match of the Day.
“It belongs there at the BBC. If they ever get rid of it, or can’t afford it, they’re finished.”
This year marks 25 years since Lineker took over from Lynam and recently retained his spot as the corporation’s highest-paid presenter.
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As part of the corporation’s annual review, the BBC revealed Lineker had pocketed £1.35 million over the past 12 months for being the face of its football coverage.
Lineker’s pay packet has often been subject of debate given his antics and political grandstanding on social media.
The People’s Channel’s own Emily Carver was one critic when the pay list was released, telling GB News viewers: “That is what annoys me.
“It’s not that he is paid this much money, which of course is irritating because we all fund it. It’s because he is all grandstanding about morals and all that.”
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