London, Jan 21 : Gary Lineker has admitted that he has to endure hours of abuse every weekend by football fans as he commutes to present `Match of the Day'.

The 51-year-old former footballer makes the trip from his home in Surrey to the BBC's new Salford studios during peak travel time ahead of Saturday afternoon kick-offs, surrounded by fans heckling him.

So he has to suffer taunts and footie fighting talk all the way - but rather than take it on the chin, Gary gives as good as he gets.

"The train's always full of football fans going up to see matches. Oh, they make sure I hear their points of view all right. They all want to have their say about their team, and make their opinions known," the Mirror quoted him as saying.

"I end up arguing back all the way up! It doesn't get too heated but there are plenty of `discussions'," he said.

The ex-Leicester, Everton, Barcelona and Tottenham star, who never received even a yellow card for bad behaviour during his 16-year career, had to start commuting to Manchester from his 2.5million pounds home in Esher, Surrey, three months ago when the Beeb moved its sports department there.

He faces the 450-mile round trip every week, with a three-and-a-half-hour train journey each way.

"If I wanted to avoid any fans I'd have to travel before 5am, because I have to get up there in time to watch all the games before the show," he said.

"It's not a bad commute though. I don't mind it," he added. (ANI)