Gary Lineker, the England soccer great-turned-media celebrity, will leave his role as a presenter for the BBC after facing criticism for reposting an Instagram story about Zionism which featured a picture of a rat.
The 64-year-old Lineker, who is the British national broadcaster鈥檚 highest-paid presenter on about 1.3 million pounds ($1.7 million) a year, was flagship soccer highlights show 鈥淢atch of the Day鈥 at the end of this season but remain with the BBC to front other soccer coverage, including next year鈥檚 men鈥檚 World Cup.
However, the that Lineker will step down entirely from the corporation after the final 鈥淢atch of the Day鈥 episode next weekend in the wake of his decision to share a post from the group, Palestine Lobby, illustrated with a picture of a rat, titled: 鈥淶ionism explained in two minutes.鈥
Rats, linked to disease and dirt, have been used to represent Jews in antisemitic propaganda throughout history, including in 1930s Germany.
鈥淕ary has acknowledged the mistake he made,鈥 BBC director-general Tim Davie said. 鈥淎ccordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.鈥
Lineker had already apologized for his conduct, saying last week he reposted material which he subsequently learned contained 鈥渙ffensive references,鈥 adding that he withdrew the post as soon as he became aware of the issue and 鈥渨ould never knowingly share anything antisemitic.鈥
Before Lineker鈥檚 apology, Davie said the corporation needed people to be the 鈥渆xemplars of BBC values and follow our social media policies鈥 and that 鈥渨hen someone makes a mistake, it costs us.鈥
鈥淔ootball has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember 鈥 both on the pitch and in the studio,鈥 Lineker said in the BBC statement. 鈥淚 care deeply about the game, and about the work I鈥檝e done with the BBC over many years. As I鈥檝e said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic 鈥 it goes against everything I stand for.
鈥淗owever, 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.鈥
In a on Instagram, Lineker said he had made a 鈥済enuine mistake鈥 and 鈥渟hould have been more diligent.鈥
鈥淚 have stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and all forms of racism all of my life, including of course antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no place for it, and never should be.鈥
Strained relationship with the BBC
Lineker鈥檚 openness to reflect his political views on social media have caused growing friction with the BBC regarding its impartiality guidelines.
He was from the corporation in March 2023 over comments he made criticizing the then-Conservative government鈥檚 new asylum policy. It led to the BBC鈥檚 rules on social media posts being rewritten to say presenters of high-profile programs outside news had a 鈥渞esponsibility to respect the BBC鈥檚 impartiality, because of their profile on the BBC.鈥
Lineker was among 500 high-profile figures who signed an open letter in February urging the BBC to re-broadcast a documentary, 鈥淕aza: How to Survive a War Zone,鈥 to its streaming service, BBC iPlayer. The documentary was pulled after it emerged its 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official.
Last week, in an interview with The Daily Telegraph newspaper that came a day after his initial apology, Lineker spoke out about the conduct of Israel in the , saying those who stayed silent about it were 鈥渁lmost complicit.鈥
Lineker鈥檚 media career
The BBC has lost something of a who has become almost as well known a broadcaster as he was a soccer player.
Lineker is one of England鈥檚 greatest players 鈥 he scored 48 goals in 80 games for his country and was the leading scorer at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico 鈥 who transitioned into being a slick, witty and knowledgeable TV personality and an all-around media darling, with 8.7 million followers on X and 1.2 million followers on Instagram. He has been the main presenter of BBC鈥檚 鈥淢atch of the Day鈥 since 1999 and used his status as a freelancer to work for other broadcasters such as NBC, Al Jazeera and BT Sport.
Lineker, who played his club soccer for Everton, Tottenham and Barcelona, is the co-founder of the hugely successful 鈥淕oalhanger鈥 podcasts 鈥 the maker of the popular 鈥淭he Rest is History鈥 series and its spin-offs about politics, soccer, entertainment and money.
Reaction to Lineker’s departure
Lineker鈥檚 departure from the BBC was welcomed by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which said he had become 鈥渁 symbol of the rot at the heart of our national broadcaster.鈥
Lineker, the group added, was 鈥渞epeatedly allowed to flout the BBC鈥檚 own rules on impartiality, abusing his position to promote his increasingly propagandist politics, vilifying those he disagrees with, and even promoting dehumanizing and extreme messages.鈥
Lineker has accepted that being outspoken with his views would make him a target but, for many, it has strengthened his status as one of Britain鈥檚 most popular figures.
鈥淕ary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades,鈥 Davie said. 鈥淗is passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond. We want to thank him for the contribution he has made.鈥
鈥淢atch of the Day鈥 鈥 a late-night program that has been running since the 1960s and is regarded as an institution in Britain 鈥 will be hosted by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan for the start of the 2025-26 season. None of them are former soccer players.
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