Gary Lineker, the former England football captain, will be departing from the BBC at the end of the season. This news was shared on Monday following his controversial social media post that included anti-Semitic imagery.
Lineker, who is the highest-paid presenter at the BBC, was scheduled to cover the 2026 World Cup as well as the FA Cup for the next season. However, this Sunday’s match will be his last appearance.
The BBC released a statement confirming, “Gary Lineker will conclude his presentation role after the final match of the 2024/25 season.” They also mentioned he would not be involved in the BBC’s coverage for the upcoming World Cup or FA Cup.
Recently, Lineker posted an Instagram story about Zionism, which featured images of mice that have historically been used in anti-Semitic contexts. He later deleted the post and apologized, stating that he would “not share anti-Semites intentionally.”
In a statement issued on Monday, Lineker mentioned that he was unaware of the anti-Semitic interpretations of his post, expressing remorse for any distress he may have caused. “I recognize the error and upset I caused and repeat how sorry I am,” he stated, emphasizing his commitment to the sport and his work with the BBC over the years.
BBC Director Tim Davy commented on Lineker’s decision, stating, “Gary admitted the mistake he made, and therefore agreed to step back from presenting more this season and beyond.” Davy praised Lineker for defining the voice of BBC’s football coverage for over two decades.
Lineker had intended to conclude his 26-year tenure by hosting matches for the popular Premier League highlights program. At 64, he earned an annual salary of £1.35 million ($1.8 million) from the publicly funded broadcaster, making him one of the network’s most famous personalities.
However, his candid social media expressions have posed challenges for BBC management, given the organization’s guidelines regarding political neutrality. For instance, in March 2023, he was temporarily suspended after likening the language used to launch the UK government’s asylum policy to rhetoric from Nazi Germany.
Following a week-long hiatus, Lineker returned to his role after his colleagues voiced their support. The BBC has since initiated an independent review of its social media policies due to this episode.
Lineker also called on the BBC to re-air the documentary on Gaza, along with several other prominent figures who signed an open letter in February expressing similar sentiments.
Before carving out a significant role in UK media, Lineker was a celebrated international footballer, having won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup. He retired in 1994 after playing for clubs including Leicester, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham, and Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan.
Lineker joined the BBC as a critic before becoming the lead presenter of their football coverage in 1999. He is also a co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts and produced the popular series The Rest Is History, along with its various spin-offs.
