“SHUT THE F* UP!” — GARY LINEKER’S SAVAGE RESPONSE AFTER BEING BRANDED A ‘TRAITOR’ LEAVES STUDIO STUNNED** What started as a joke instantly turned into one of the most explosive World Cup TV moments of the year when Micah Richards labelled Gary Lineker an “absolute traitor” over his surprise ITV appearance and BBC digs. But Lineker wasn’t having it. His brutal four-word comeback stopped the conversation dead in its tracks, leaving viewers shocked and sending social media into overdrive. The fiery exchange has reopened old wounds from his controversial BBC departure and sparked fresh debate over whether the joke went too far — or whether Lineker’s response stole the show.

Micah Richards dubbed his Rest is Football co-host an ‘absolute traitor’ for his BBC jibes during the former Match of the Day presenter’s surprise appearance on ITV’s World Cup coverage.

The former BBC employee of 26 years was a guest in ITV’s studio in New York ahead of Germany’s meeting with Ivory Coast, and used his return to a major broadcaster to subtly criticise the decision to host early-tournament coverage from Salford.

Lineker began his appearance on ITV by pretending to step in and replace Laura Woods as the host for the evening, and Richards made his point by doing the same on Netflix’s The Rest is Football.

‘Hello and welcome to the Rest is Football with me,’ Richards began before he was cut off by Lineker.

‘Woah woah woah woah Micah, that’s my job,’ the broadcasting veteran said, before adding: ‘I see what you did there though.

‘See, it’s not nice is it?’ Richards pointed out as the pair, along with studio guest Joe Cole, burst into peals of laughter. ‘Absolute traitor you are!

’26 years of blood, sweat, and tears for the BBC, and then you go over to the rivals!’

But Lineker was quick to show his amused disdain for Richards’ argument, switching off the video link to his co-presenter – who remains in Manchester as part of the BBC’s team – and telling him to ‘shut the f*** up.’

Releasing the clip of the pointed moment indicated Lineker’s willingness to send his appearance up, but that might not yet take the sting out of his initial jibe.

‘I’ve been doing a show daily for Netflix, we’re at Times Square,’ Lineker had said while being introduced on ITV.

‘But I desperately wanted to come and see your set because I think it’s absolutely amazing and I can confirm that it is real.’

Lineker had initially criticised the BBC’s decision while promoting his own show in May.

‘I was originally going to do it for the BBC, this summer, but that didn’t transpire and I would have been in Salford in a green box and now I’m going to be in New York City overlooking Times Square with lots of great guests,’ Lineker said.

But as much as the BBC have been subject to mockery for their ‘work-from-home’ World Cup coverage, they have avoided the issues currently plaguing their rival.

High winds have hit the open-air studio in Brooklyn, with Laura Woods et al forced to take shelter inside midway through their coverage of Switzerland versus Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Daily Mail Sport also reported on Saturday that presenters risk being drowned out by raucous rooftop parties from a neighbouring hotel.