Football presenter targeted in social media attack
Former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has become embroiled in a public dispute with far-right activist Tommy Robinson after footage from his personal holiday was shared online without context.
The incident occurred on November 30, 2025, when Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, posted a video on social media platform X showing Lineker walking through Mexican streets with a young woman.
Robinson accompanied the clip with a suggestive message asking: 'What are you up to here @GaryLineker?' The original footage also captured a passer-by questioning the 65-year-old broadcaster before telling him to enjoy his holiday.
Family context revealed
Lineker quickly clarified the situation, explaining that the woman in question was actually his daughter-in-law, and they were visiting a pharmacy to obtain medicine for his son Harry, who had fallen ill during their family holiday.
In his response on social media, Lineker stated: 'If you must know, I was going to a chemist with my daughter-in-law, to get some medicine for her unwell husband….my son. Hatred is a dreadful weakness.'
The broadcaster later retweeted a post accusing Robinson of encouraging his followers to spread potentially libellous content, suggesting the activist had 'thrown his followers under the bus.'
Family members join the defence
Lineker's son George didn't hold back in his response, directly addressing Robinson as a 'f***ing idiot' in a social media post that defended his father and clarified the family relationship.
This isn't the first time Lineker has faced harassment from Robinson's supporters. In a previous interview with Politics Joe, the football presenter revealed he had been 'elbowed in the back' by an elderly woman attending one of Robinson's rallies.
He described only two instances of being accosted in public, with the other occurring while grocery shopping when someone told him he 'hated Britain.' Lineker noted that 'it's the same lot every time. It's the same people.'
Hall of Fame recognition amid controversy
The Mexican trip had a professional purpose beyond family leisure. Lineker visited Pachuca in central Mexico to attend a ceremony inducting him into the International Football Hall of Fame.
The former England striker noted on Instagram that this marked his first return to Mexico since the country hosted the 1986 World Cup, where Lineker won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer.
The controversy comes amid reports that Lineker is preparing to join streaming service Netflix in a lucrative deal timed for next year's World Cup coverage, following his departure from the BBC in May 2025 after sharing a controversial post about zionism.
