BBC forced to mute audio on footage of celebrations during England’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland as Gary Lineker drops the F-bomb

The BBC production crew showed quick reactions in muting the audio during England’s penalty shootout win over Switzerland as Gary Lineker appeared to drop the F-bomb. 

Wild scenes ensued in the studio as the Three Lions advanced to the semi-final of Euro 2024 in the most dramatic of fashions on Saturday evening. 

All five of England takers stepped up and confidently dispatched their efforts, each success leading to a jubilant celebrations and a release of tension. 

Perhaps none more so than Bukayo Saka‘s spot-kick which came three years after his heartbreaking miss in the final of Euro 2020. The BBC pundits’ unbridled joy was shown as the Arsenal star converted his attempt from 12 yards. 

And the veteran broadcaster Lineker appeared to get caught up in the moment a little too much, forcing the BBC to cut the sound on the clip that was broadcast live on air. 

Bukayo Saka slayed the ghosts of Euro 2020 by confidently dispatching his penalty against Switzerland

Watching back the footage of their celebrations after England’s win, former Manchester City defender Micah Richards asked: ‘Where’s the sound gone?!’

Lineker admitted: ‘I think, to be honest, I dropped the F-bomb.’

The pair were joined by Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard, who were also seen jumping for joy as the Three Lions reached their third major tournament semi-final in their last four attempts.

Saka was England’s best player on Saturday in what was another competitive quarter-final clash at the tournament, with the 22-year-old his team’s chief attacking outlet. 

His penalty and Player of the Match display had more meaning than most. 

‘It’s something I embrace.’ He said, reflecting on the pressure post-match. ‘It was special, very special, how we fought back. The last time we went to penalties we all know what happened.

‘You can fail once but you have a choice whether you put yourself in that position again or not. I’m a guy who is going to put myself in that position. I believed in myself.

‘To come back from something like that was really difficult but I used it to make me stronger.’

He received a heartwarming message of support from Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho who, along with Marcus Rashford, also missed a spot-kick at Wembley three year ago and was subsequently subjected to a torrent of vile racial abuse on social media. 

Jadon Sancho hailed Bukayo Saka after England progressed to the Euro 2024 semi-finals

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the fifth and decisive spot-kick for England to send them into the semi-finals

‘I’m so proud of this guy!’ Sancho wrote on X. ‘You did it for me and Marcus brother!’

Saka later responded to the heartwarming message from his former England team-mate and added: ‘My boys.’

England return to action on Wednesday when they face the Netherlands in the semi-final after Ronald Koeman’s side came from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 on Saturday night.