Gary Lineker bleeding freely on air during SPOTY broadcast after cutting himself on main trophy

Gary Lineker managed to cut his hand open on the Sports Personality of the Year trophy barely five minutes into the live broadcast of the BBC's awards ceremony in Belfast.

It wasn't quite clear how Lineker contrived to injure himself but there was more than a little blood flowing from his hand.

Lineker managed to laugh it off easily enough, but couldn't quite keep the wounded appendage out of shot on the pre-watershed SPOTY show.

Here in Belfast, Gary Lineker has cut his finger on the SPOTY award. He appears to be bleeding quite profusely...

— Oliver Brown (@oliverbrown_tel) December 20, 2015

The long-time Match of the Day presenter recovered sufficiently to swiftly continue with his evening's presenting duties once patched up.

Nevertheless, it'll probably be Gabby Logan or Clare Balding presenting the gongs later, just ot be on the safe side.

• Why are men on TV always such fools?

Step away from the trophies, Gary