BBC Deletes Peaky Blinders Dig After Birmingham City Sack Manager Wayne Rooney

BBC social media executives depicted Wayne Rooney in the signature cap of infamous Brummie gang the Peaky Blinders (Screengrab via BBC Sport/X)

BBC Sport swiftly deleted a tweet about football manager Wayne Rooney, who was sacked Tuesday by Birmingham City Football Club, following a direct rebuke from Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.

The post, in a nod to hit BBC drama Peaky Blinders, depicted Rooney in the Brummie gang’s signature flat cap, captioned: “By order of the Peaky Blinders, Wayne Rooney has been sacked by Birmingham City.”

On news of Rooney’s sacking by the club, the BBC Sport X account was quick to post. (Screengrab via BBC Sport/X)

The reference, though seemingly lighthearted, did not sit well with many, including Lineker, who tersely responded: “Delete this.” Advice that the BBC social media team quickly followed.

Rooney, the former Manchester United and star England striker, was sacked after a short-lived turn as manager, marked by just two wins in 15 games, culminating in a disheartening 3-0 defeat at Leeds on New Year’s Day, leaving the club bottom of the Premier League.

“Football is a results business and I recognise they have not been at the level I wanted them to be,” Rooney said of his dismissal. “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.”

In a statement, Birmingham City acknowledged the decision to part ways with Rooney and first-team coach Carl Robinson, citing unmet expectations and the necessity of a management change for the club’s best interests.

Rooney now plans to step back from the game for a while to “prepare for the next opportunity” in his “journey as a manager.”