Gary Lineker to leave BBC after antisemitism row

The corporation's highest-paid presenter had been due to front coverage of the 2026 World Cup and next season's FA Cup. But this Sunday's Match of the Day, on the last day of the Premier League season, will be his final show.

"Gary Lineker will leave his presenting role following the conclusion of Match of the Day for the 2024/25 season," the BBC said in a statement. "He will not be part of the BBC's coverage of the 2026 World Cup or next season's FA Cup coverage."

Last week, Lineker shared an Instagram story about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, historically used as an antisemitic insult. He removed the post and apologised unreservedly, saying he would "never knowingly share anything antisemitic".

In a fresh statement on Monday, Lineker restated that he did not know about the post's antisemitic connotations. "I recognise the error and the upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am," he said. "Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action."

He added: "Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember - both on the pitch and in the studio. I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years. As I've said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic - it goes against everything I stand for."

'Defining voice'

Tim Davie, BBC director-general, said: "Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season." Davie defined Lineker as a "defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades," thanking him for his contribution.

Lineker had already planned to end his 26-year stay as host of the popular Premier League highlights programme Match of the Day at the end of the season. The 64-year-old earned £1.35 million ($1.8 million) a year from the publicly funded broadcaster, and he was one of their most recognisable faces.

But his outspoken views on social media have previously caused headaches for BBC bosses due to the corporation's rules on impartiality. In March 2023, Lineker was briefly taken off air after comparing the language used to launch a British government asylum policy to the rhetoric of Nazi-era Germany.

Lineker was reinstated just over a week later - after a revolt by several of his colleagues in solidarity - but the BBC launched an independent review of its social media guidelines as a result of the incident.

He was also among 500 other high-profile figures who signed an open letter in February urging the BBC to rebroadcast a documentary, Gaza: "How To Survive A Warzone," to BBC iPlayer.

Before becoming a major figure in the British media industry, Lineker was a global football star, winning the World Cup Golden Boot for England in 1986.  After a playing career at Leicester, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham and Japan's Nagoya Grampus Eight, he retired in 1994.

Lineker became a pundit for the BBC before taking over as the lead presenter for its football coverage in 1999. The former England striker is the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, makers of the popular The Rest Is History series and various spin-offs.