Gary Lineker pressures BBC into DELETING bizarre tweet mocking up Wayne Rooney

BBC Sport has deleted a bizarre tweet mocking up Wayne Rooney as a Peaky Blinder following his sacking by Birmingham City - after being told to do so by Gary Lineker.

The corporation posted a tweet which appeared to poke fun at Rooney after he was dismissed from his role at St Andrew's after nine defeats from 15 games in charge.

Following the announcement, BBC Sport's account on X tweeted the message: 'By order of the Peaky Blinders, Wayne Rooney has been sacked by Birmingham City.'

The post was accompanied by an image of Rooney in a flat cap and suit, reminiscent of the hit show's main cast - but it appeared to infuriate BBC employee Lineker, with the Match of the Day host replying to the message with the command: 'Delete this.'

It comes after Lineker was briefly suspended by the BBC last March after making a controversial post on X, then known as Twitter, which compared the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with that of 1930s Germany.

Lineker was at the centre of an impartiality row after criticising the announcement - and was briefly asked by the broadcaster to take a step back from Match Of The Day.

But pundits including Ian Wright and Alan Shearer refused to appear on the show without Lineker, and the former England footballer was reinstated after three days.

The scandal led to the BBC strengthening social media guidelines for staff on issues of impartiality and civility.

In September, the corporation said presenters on flagship shows must not endorse or attack a political party, criticise the character of individual politicians in the UK, comment on political debate during a UK general election or referendum, or take up an official role in campaigning groups.

Then in December, Lineker was among a group of celebrities to sign a letter calling for the Government to scrap its Rwanda scheme and for political leaders to come up with a 'fair new plan for refugees'.

He was joined by high-profile figures including actor Brian Cox in signing the letter calling Britain's refugee system 'ever-more uncaring, chaotic and costly' and saying asylum policies are not working.

After the statement, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said he did not feel Lineker should be expressing such views as a prominent BBC presenter.

Mr Shapps said at the time: 'I know millions of people watch him for his football commentary and TV presenting; I would have thought it's better to stick with that.'

But Lineker then retaliated by tweeting a photograph of Mr Shapps with his name under it alongside three more images of the politician with the names Michael Green, Corinne Stockheath and Sebastian Fox used instead.

Lineker wrote at the time: 'A tad rich coming from someone who can't even stick to one name. 4 chaps Shapps.'

Soon after, Samir Shah - the Government's candidate for the next BBC chairman – said Lineker's recent tweets about politicians appear to breach the corporation's social media guidelines.

Mr Shah said he did not think it was 'helpful' that Lineker had signed the letter, but did not see that as a breach of the rules. However, he said he did think Lineker's subsequent tweets were a breach.

Today, former Manchester United and England striker Rooney was sacked as Birmingham City boss after less than three months in charge and said he would 'take some time to get over' his dismissal.

Supporters called for Rooney's removal as the side slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Leeds on New Year's Day - a result which left the club 20th in the table having been sixth when Rooney took charge.

But Rooney said he did not feel he was given long enough, adding that he would now plan to take a break from the game.

A club statement read: 'Birmingham City has today parted company with manager Wayne Rooney and first-team coach Carl Robinson.

'Despite their best efforts, results have not met the expectations that were made clear at the outset. Therefore, the board feels that a change in management is in the best interests of the football club.'

Rooney, who has previously managed at Derby and DC United, said in a statement: 'Football is a results business - and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be.

'However, time is the most precious commodity a manager requires and I do not believe 13 weeks was sufficient to oversee the changes that were needed.

'Personally, it will take me some time to get over this setback. I have been involved in professional football, as either a player or manager, since I was 16.

'Now, I plan to take some time with my family as I prepare for the next opportunity in my journey as a manager.'

Rooney was controversially brought in at the expense of popular former boss John Eustace by the club's new ownership group. A takeover by a company owned by American businessman Tom Wagner was completed last summer.

Eustace had lifted Blues away from relegation trouble during a 15-month spell.

Chief executive Garry Cook said: 'We are committed to doing what is necessary to bring success to St Andrew's.

'Unfortunately, Wayne's time with us did not go as planned and we have decided to move in a different direction.

'The search for a successor begins with immediate effect and we will update supporters when we have further news.'

Professional development coach Steve Spooner will take responsibility for men's first-team matters on an interim basis.