Gary Lineker apologises after being caught browsing M&S without a mask

The Match of the Day presenter had previously said those who fail to wear masks are "snowflakes"

Gary Lineker has blamed his “old age” after he was caught failing to wear a mask while browsing desserts at his local Marks & Spencer.

The BBC presenter was snapped by an eagle-eyed member of the public while shopping at the supermarket in Barnes, south west London.

He said that he realised his mistake and hastily put on a face covering when shoppers "gave him daggers".

The Match of the Day host, 59, had previously taken a selfie outside the same branch with a mask captioned: "I'm taking no chances.''

He tweeted an apology to his fellow shoppers last night, saying: “In my old age, I went into a store and forgot to put my mask on.

“Was wondering why people were giving me daggers. Realised after a couple of minutes and hastily put it on. Felt awful and embarrassed. Apologies to those present.”

Comedian David Baddiel responded by joking: “I think we all know you can't get one to fit round your ears.” He added: “P.S I love Gary. Even his ears.”

Lineker was accused of being a hypocrite when Susan Hall, leader of the GLA Conservatives, tweeted the image under the caption: “Do as I say, not as I do ...”

Gary Lineker was labelled a hypocrite online after being caught maskless
PA

Others leapt to his defence, saying: "Easily done. Finding a mask in your pocket is the modern equivalent of finding a fiver in your jacket!"

The former England striker had been vocal about the importance of wearing masks. On July 14, he tweeted: "Why would anyone object to wearing a mask in a shop? Not exactly a hardship. What a country of snowflakes we've become.''

He also tweeted: "Wearing masks, of all things, is the most obvious thing we can do to help decrease the spread of the virus and the smallest of all the sacrifices. No brainer.''

A 38-year-old shopper who spotted Lineker shopping mask-free on Sunday told The Sun: "If it was anyone else I wouldn't mind so much. But it's frustrating for someone who tries to take the moral high ground as much as he does.''

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