GARY Lineker has agreed to a massive pay cut to his eye-watering £1.75m BBC salary.
The Match of the Day host vowed to take the salary hit amid a major row over the axing of free TV licences for over-75s.
Footie legend Lineker, 58 – the Beeb’s highest paid presenter – said: “I love my job at the BBC and I enjoy doing it.
“I’m currently negotiating a new contract with them and I’m volunteering to take less.”
The former England and Spurs striker told a friend: “It’s the right thing to do.”
The move comes just weeks after we told how the ex-footie ace sparked a Twitter storm by suggesting he “must be due a pay rise”.
I’m currently negotiating a new contract with them and I’m volunteering to take less
Gary Lineker
He was slammed by social media users, who pointed out that his wages could cover the cost of the TV licence for thousands of pensioners.
Lineker earns 13 times more than ex-Match of the Day host Jimmy Hill but has a fraction of his audience.
Hill regularly attracted 12million viewers but only earned £50,000 — which is £130,000 in today’s money.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Lineker, whose BBC package is £1.75million, was watched by just 3.36million on one Saturday night last season.
Gary, 58, is the BBC’s top-paid star. He hosted Match of the Day 34 times last season, 47 hours in total.
He also presented 11 FA Cup live and highlights shows, lasting 26 hours 45 minutes.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
