Gary Lineker to Depart BBC Sooner After Antisemitism Controversy

Soccer pundit Gary Lineker will leave the BBC sooner than planned following an antisemitism row, the corporation has confirmed.

Last week, Lineker shared a social media post about Zionism containing an illustration of a rat, historically used as an antisemitic insult. The presenter apologized, saying he would never knowingly have shared anything antisemitic.

“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 on Monday. “He will not be part of the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup or next season’s FA Cup coverage.”

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. Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades. His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the U.K. and beyond. We want to thank him for the contribution he has made.”

Lineker added: “Football [soccer] 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. However, I recognize the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”

This isn’t Lineker’s first controversy. In 2023, the BBC said it had had a ‘frank conversation’” with the star after he criticized the government’s asylum policy, comparing the language to “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s.”

In response, the BBC determined that he had breached their social media guidelines and Lineker was required to step back from hosting for several days.

Earlier this month, Lineker appeared to criticize the new boss of BBC Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, telling the Telegraph he had “no television experience,” while urging him not to make changes to “Match of the Day.”

And, in an interview with the BBC’s Amol Rajan, Lineker said he sensed the BBC wanted him to leave as he negotiated a new contract last year.

Last week, when BBC director-general Tim Davie was asked whether Lineker broke the rules with his post, he replied: “When it comes to presenters, I just say that the BBC’s reputation is held by everyone, and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us. And I think we absolutely need people to be exemplars of the BBC values and follow our social media policy. Simple as that.”