Gary Lineker, the renowned presenter of Match of the Day, is set to leave the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) this week following a controversy over antisemitic content. The departure comes after Lineker apologized for sharing online material with antisemitic connotations.
Lineker's departure from BBC is expected to be announced on Monday. He will reportedly not present coverage for the 2026 World Cup or next season’s FA Cup due to a mutual agreement with the broadcaster. His final presentation on Match of the Day is scheduled for this Sunday, marking an end to his 26-year tenure since taking over from Des Lynam.
The controversy arose when Lineker reposted a pro-Palestine video on social media that criticized Zionism and included an illustration of a rat—an antisemitic trope used in Nazi Germany. In response, he stated that he would "never knowingly share anything antisemitic" and deleted the post as soon as he became aware of its implications. BBC director general Tim Davie faced calls throughout last week to dismiss Lineker who was paid £1.4m by BBC last year. A petition sponsored by Campaign Against Antisemitism garnered more than 10,000 signatures urging BBC to remove him immediately from his position.
Future plans and replacements
Despite his imminent departure from Match of The Day at season's end, it was anticipated that Lineker would host coverage for FA Cup in 2025-26 and next summer's World Cup under BBC's banner. However, these plans have been disrupted due to recent events.
In terms of replacements for Match Of The Day hosting duties; Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman are slated take up shared presenting roles starting next Premier League season.
A source revealed Sun:
“Gary acknowledged his position at the BBC, anchoring the most prestigious tournament in world football, was untenable, and he will not be hosting the World Cup. He offered to step down at the end of the season, and did not want the BBC – an organisation he still holds in the highest of esteem – dragged into any further controversy.
“He remains absolutely devastated by the recent turn of events and is deeply regretful about how his post was interpreted. His last Match of the Day will air on Sunday now and he won’t be back.”
Past controversies
This is not Lineker's first brush with controversy while at the BBC. In March 2023, he was temporarily suspended over comments criticizing the Conservative government’s asylum policy. Earlier this year, he was among 500 high-profile cultural figures who urged the BBC to rebroadcast a documentary titled "Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone", which had been removed from BBC iPlayer due to its narrator being linked to Hamas-run government.
Gary Lineker's exit from the BBC marks an end of an era for Match of The Day viewers and sports fans alike. His departure serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible sharing and consumption of online content in today's digital age.
