Gary Lineker accused Micah Richards of "picking on the little guy" after the ex-defender admitted to "smashing" Mark Pougatch in a BBC vs ITV game.
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BBC and ITV pundits played a friendly matchIt ended 16-14 in favour of ITVRoy Keane, Gary Neville and several others participatedWHAT HAPPENED?
While taking in a break from Euro 2024 duties, pundits from the BBC and ITV faced off in a friendly five-a-side football match in Berlin. Despite the friendly label, the match was intensely competitive, featuring an array of football legends and top presenters from both broadcasting giants.
ITV's formidable team included Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Gaizka Mendieta, Eni Aluko, and Jill Scott. The squad also included presenter Mark Pougatch and several behind-the-scenes crew members. Meanwhile, the BBC team boasted stars like Micah Richards, Rio Ferdinand, Izzy Christiansen, and French journalist Julien Laurens.
AdvertisementGetty & BBC SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The match, played on a pitch close to their TV studios, was a closely fought contest with ITV emerging victorious with a 16-14 scoreline. However, the highlight of the game was not just the crazy goalmouth action but the interactions and antics of the players on the pitch.
WHAT MICAH & LINEKER SAID
Despite being a friendly, Richards, the former Manchester City defender, did not shy away from physical challenges. During the game, he admitted to a heavy tackle on ITV's Pougatch, which drew a humorous rebuke from his BBC colleague, Gary Lineker, who accused him of "picking on the little guy."
"I smashed Pougatch," Richards confessed on the podcast. "I came out my box and it was a 60/40 to him. I thought, 'I need to leave one on him.' I went right through him!"
However, Lineker chose to stay away from the pitch.
"I have not played since the day I retired, except for one game after I retired, which was a month later in Gordon Banks' testimonial," Lineker explained. "You retire for a reason; you retire because you can't do it anymore, so why do you want to go and be c**p?"
DID YOU KNOW?
Despite being on the receiving end of a crunching tackle from Richards, Pougatch had his moment of individual brilliance as he scored a remarkable goal past Ferdinand. The TV presenter let the ball roll across his body before powering it past a diving Ferdinand, showcasing unexpected footballing flair that helped him receive applause from Keane and Co.