Fuming John Terry fires back at David Baddiel after comedian cracks joke

John Terry has fired back at comedian David Baddiel on Twitter after he suggested the former Chelsea and England captain should host Match of the Day on Saturday night. 

It was announced on Friday that Gary Lineker would be stepping back from presenting the BBC‘s flagship highlights programme ‘until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media’.

Making light of the situation on social media, Chelsea supporter Baddiel appeared to make reference to Terry’s infamous shared Champions League trophy lift in 2012. 

The then Chelsea club captain was suspended for the club’s triumph over Bayern Munich in the Bavarian city, but joined Frank Lampard on the podium, in full kit, to lift the trophy. 

Posting on social media in the wake of Lineker’s suspension, Baddiel wrote: ‘I wonder if, somewhere, John Terry is practicing using an autocue.’

David Baddiel was blasted by John Terry on social media after he cracked a full-kit joke

The former Chelsea and England captain was suspended for the 2012 Champions League final

However he still took part in the celebrations in full kit – leading to various jokes online and beyond

Terry, clearly unimpressed by the joke, responded: ‘Don’t use my name for a cheap laugh on social media!’

He accompanied his post with a clown emoji. 

Terry is no stranger to taking people on in a public forum. During one of Chelsea’s worst seasons in recent memory, in 2015-16, he fired back at Robbie Savage for criticising him. 

‘I’ve come under criticism, individually, from certain players and individuals, players I’ve looked up to and played alongside,’ Terry said. 

‘I’ve taken that on the chin: Rio, Carra, Neville, the very best I’ve come up against in the game. I take that on the chin. When others speak, maybe I don’t take it on the chin.

‘When players have not had a career, played at a really bad level in their career… Robbie Savage being one. He’s dug me out a couple of times.

‘You take it as a footballer, as an individual. I’ll take it from the Rios, Carraghers and Neville. All day long. From others? Nah.’

Other instances of Terry firing back at criticism have taken place on his social media. He took aim at Rio Ferdinand after the former Manchester United defender named him fifth in his list of the best Premier League defenders. 

Meanwhile, he called a reporter from The Telegraph an ‘absolute plum’ after they reported that the Premier League was considering legal action against the former defender over his use of the league’s trophy in his NFTs. 

Match of the Day has been thrown into an almighty crisis in the last 24 hours or so after the announcement, instigated by the BBC, that Lineker would be stepping back from his role. 

Gary Lineker was told that he either had to stop his politicised posts or quit the BBC altogether

The BBC programme is in ‘crisis’ with no presenters, pundits or commentators for the first time in its history after the corporation’s decision to boot Gary Lineker off air led to mass walkouts

He had said on Thursday that he was planning to host the show, as usual, on Saturday evening. However, events conspired which mean the broadcaster will not appear on BBC One in his customary role. 

Announcing the news, the BBC said: ‘The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines. 

‘The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media. 

‘When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. We have never said that Gary should be an opinion free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.’