Gary Lineker Calls Out Former Manchester City Goalkeeper Joe Hart for On-Air Blunder
Ex-Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart was called out by Gary Lineker on Match of the Day after making a humorous broadcasting error during live analysis.
Hart, who retired from professional football last year at age 37, enjoyed an illustrious career between the posts for premier clubs including Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Celtic. The Shrewsbury-born goalkeeper also represented England on the international stage, earning an impressive 75 caps for his country.
Following his retirement, Hart transitioned into football punditry, regularly appearing on BBC’s football coverage to provide expert analysis and insights.
During Saturday’s Match of the Day broadcast, Hart joined former Manchester City teammate Micah Richards on the panel. While analyzing Brighton and Hove Albion’s victory over Fulham, Hart was discussing Jan Paul van Hecke’s goal when viewers witnessed an unexpected moment of confusion.
“What a great header that is. He’s got a clean run…. yeah, you’re right. It’s a heck of a header that….” Hart remarked during his analysis.
This seemingly innocuous comment prompted immediate laughter from both Lineker and Richards, as Hart had unknowingly responded to the director speaking in his earpiece rather than continuing his planned analysis.
Lineker quickly pointed out the error, saying: “I love, Joe, how you just agreed with the director in your ear.”
Realizing his mistake, Hart smiled and admitted: “I’m having conversations in my head!”
To which Lineker playfully added: “You just answered him.”
Behind the Scenes of the Broadcasting Blunder
The humorous incident was later discussed on The Rest Is Football podcast, which features Lineker alongside Richards and football legend Alan Shearer.
Lineker explained the situation in detail: “Jamie was editing last night and Joe was going through his little bits and then Jamie was like ‘oh, that was a heck of a header’ and Joe answered him. All he’s hearing in his ear and he went ‘yes, it was.'”
He continued: “Micah and myself, because we hear the same feed in our ears, the gallery talking, it was so funny. It’s hilarious.”
Despite the on-air mistake, Lineker praised Hart’s commitment to his new career path:
- Strong work ethic in preparing for broadcasts
- Dedication to improving his analysis skills
- Already demonstrating significant talent as a pundit
“He is doing really well and I tell you what, he works hard at it as well. It’s quite easy to come in and think this is easy, this analysis, just talking about football but he works really hard. He’s going to be very good, he already is,” Lineker concluded.
Hart’s transition from playing to punditry represents a common career path for retired footballers, with his Manchester City and England experience providing valuable perspective for viewers. This light-hearted moment demonstrates the challenges of live broadcasting, even for seasoned professionals accustomed to high-pressure situations on the pitch.
Want to see more football analysis from former professionals? Follow BBC’s Match of the Day coverage for expert insights and subscribe to The Rest Is Football podcast for behind-the-scenes stories from the beautiful game!