Gary Lineker has claimed trans people are “some of the most persecuted on the planet" in a recent interview with the Telegraph.
Lineker, 64, is due to step down from his role as Match of the Day presenter next week.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Lineker has described the issue of transgender inclusion in sports "too nuanced" for social media discussion, questioning whether it will "ever be a real issue" in competitive sports.
Lineker suggested that sporting bodies would naturally develop appropriate rules to address transgender participation, comparing it to how boxing established weight categories.
Gary Lineker has described trans people as "some of the most persecuted on the planet"
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His remarks come amid ongoing debate following bans on transgender women in women's competitions by several sporting organisations including the Football Association.
During the interview, Lineker expressed sympathy for transgender people: “They’re some of the most persecuted on the planet, trans people. You’ve got to be very careful not to have bigoted views on that."
The former footballer, who scored 461 goals during his professional career, questioned whether transgender inclusion in sports represents a genuine problem requiring intervention.
"I genuinely feel really badly for trans people. Imagine going through what they have to go through in life. Is there even any issue?
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Gary Lineker even questioned if there is "even any issue" with transgender people competing in sports
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"It's the same swimmer, the same weightlifter, the same boxer. They're the only people I ever see."
He questioned whether there were many individuals who "pretend to be women just so they're going to be good at sport."
The former England striker did acknowledge the complexity of the issue, however, adding: "It's so complex, I see both sides to a degree.
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"Sport, as it's already doing, will sort it out and work out rules, like they did in boxing, when they realised they couldn’t have heavyweights against little fellas.”
The FA's ban on transgender women in women's football came into effect on June 1.
The policy change followed the UK Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of "sex" in the 2010 Equality Act and interim guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
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The FA had previously allowed transgender women to play if their testosterone levels were decreased, but reversed this position after receiving legal advice.
An FA spokesperson explained: "The Supreme Court's ruling on the 16 April means that we will be changing our policy. Transgender women will no longer be able to play in women's football in England."
The FA's decision prompted immediate backlash from grassroots football clubs, who publicly condemned the ruling as "shameful".
Australian footballer Jackson Irvine became the professional in the men's game to speak out about the matter, calling it a "really worrying decision for all trans people and queer people in the country."
The governing body acknowledged the impact of their policy change, stating: "We understand that this will be difficult for people who simply want to play the game they love in the gender by which they identify."