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Gary Lineker has branded the United States an extraordinarily racist country as the BBC became embroiled in a new row over the former England striker-turned-TV presenter's political pronouncements.

Lineker had already angered current World Cup hosts Qatar by voicing concerns over its human rights record. The Qataris hit back over what they said was the BBC's very racist coverage of the tournament.

Lineker responded by doubting whether Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy had even been watching the corporations output and doubled down on his denial of accusations he had failed to engage with them before criticising the event live on air.

But in showing he was prepared to do the same with the next World Cup he took a swipe at co-hosts the United States, calling it an extraordinarily racist country.

Lineker spoke out a fortnight after Hassan Al-Thawadi, the Qatar 2022 secretary general, went on the attack over the BBCs decision to begin its World Cup coverage with a monologue from the Match of the Day presenter about the scandals to plague the build-up to the tournament, and to focus on those at the expense of the opening ceremony.

In an interview with The News Agents, Lineker said: We pointed facts out at the beginning of the tournament; those facts remain. So, lots of people were killed doing the stadiums. Yes, the stadiums are extraordinary, but at a great price. Homophobia is an issue here, womens rights are a little bit of an issue here.

For me, it was always really more about the corruption side of it because, as I said previously, I think pretty much every country, including our own, has got issues. And were off to America in four years time, with Canada and Mexico, but obviously Americas an extraordinarily racist country.

So, theres always issues but it was more the fact that we just pointed out a few facts and particularly the aspect of it being so corrupt they said it was going to be summer and it was in the winter. I dont think anythings particularly changed but its been a cracking tournament but thats football; football is a wonderful sport.

Asked if there had been dialogue with tournament bosses since his opening monologue that so upset them, he replied: I doubt theyve been watching, to be perfectly honest. There was one bit where the guy went on a radio station back home, I think hes one of the organisers, and said he tried to reach out to me time and time again to get an interview and that, frankly, wasnt true at all, neither to myself nor my agent. And then he said it was through the BBC and the BBC have no record of it whatsoever.

Telegraph Sport has seen emails showing attempts were made to set up a meeting between Al-Thawadi and BBC presenters and pundits before Aprils World Cup draw.

A source also said talks with senior executives at the corporation floundered because they refused to commit to getting the likes of Lineker in the same room as the tournament chief.

Linekers interview also saw him asked whether he would support a law change banning ITV showing Englands World Cup matches over the curse that has seen them repeatedly crash out of tournaments when on the channel, including against France on Saturday.

Im not going to join in that - that will create terrible headlines, he initially said, before adding: Obviously, its completely superstitious but why not? Why not?

Pressed on whether there was an ITV curse, he replied: It felt like it the other night again but obviously that sort of stuff is nonsense. And I used to be very superstitious about these things, but I learned a long time ago that superstition is unlucky.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/4/8/4/AAZiH8AAD_Ps.jpg

For American users, he's sort of the equivlent of William "The Refrigerator" Perry or Mark Messier. Old popular sports star

He keeps getting in trouble for saying leftist opinions in public despite being paid by the BBC which is tax payer funded. Would be like if a PBS host kept saying their political opinions. The UK doesn't mind when right wing guys say it but Gary is the first non conservative to ever do so and it keeps causing a fuss.