Gary Lineker QUITS BBC and will not front its 2026 World Cup coverage after explosive anti-Semitism row
GARY Lineker will announce he is leaving the BBC tomorrow and will not front the 2026 World Cup following an antisemitism row.
The former Leicester City and England striker is bowing out by mutual agreement after 26 years with his final Match of the Day this Sunday.
7
Gary Lineker will announce he is leaving the BBC
Credit: Splash
7
A source said: 'It is an absolutely heart-breaking end to what has been an extraordinary broadcasting career'
Credit: Getty
A source told The Sun: 'It is a heartbreaking end to an extraordinary broadcasting career.'
Gary agreed to leave the BBC for good after meeting bosses last week — with a source saying he realised his position was untenable.
The Match of the Day host's early departure comes five days after he apologised for sharing a controversial post which saw him accused of antisemitism.
Ex-England striker Gary, 64, faced a huge backlash after he reposted a video which criticised Zionism and included an illustration of a rat.
He had been due to host the BBC's coverage of the 2026 World Cup but will instead bow out this Sunday.
The source said: '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.'
The ex-Tottenham, Everton and Leicester City striker steps back after 26 years with the broadcaster, where he was its highest-paid presenter on £1.35million a year.
His final years as MOTD host have been marred by his outspoken views and fallouts with bosses.
He is now likely to focus on his successful Goalhanger Podcasts business.
Gary Lineker destroys Wayne Rooney's managerial career live on BBC leaving pundits speechless
And those close to the star said his exit means he will be able to speak more freely.
They added: 'Gary remains passionate about speaking out over perceived injustices in the world, and will continue to call out things that he believes to be wrong.
'He will be able to speak without the shackles of the non-partisan BBC, and has already had a lot of TV offers to mull over.
'And, of course, he will be cheering on England like any other fan this summer.'
Last Tuesday Gary deleted an Instagram story post from the group Palestine Lobby after he had shared it with his 1.2million followers.
The re-post led to widespread calls for the BBC to drop Gary and the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism said it was submitting a complaint to the corporation.
HATE ROW APOLOGY
In a statement that day Gary's agent said: 'Whilst viewing and reposting a video, Gary did not notice a rodent emoticon added by the author of the post.
'Although if he had, he would not have made any connection. The repost has been removed.'
On Wednesday Gary apologised and said: 'On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references.
'I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.
'The post was removed as soon as I became aware of the issue.
7
The presenter will confirm his last Match of The Day will be on Sunday
Credit: Getty
7
A young Gary presenting Match of the Day in 1999
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
'Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters.
"I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views.'
BBC Director General Tim Davie addressed the backlash the same day, saying: '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 the exemplars of BBC values and follow our social media policies, simple as that.'
Last October The Sun revealed that Gary would quit Match of the Day at the end of this season — but anchor the BBC's 2025/26 FA Cup coverage and the World Cup.
He previously clashed with bosses for pushing the BBC's impartiality rules but has staunchly defended using social media to speak out.
The BBC's reputation is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us.
BBC boss Tim Davie
Last month he was asked by the BBC's Amol Rajan whether it was within his remit to give a view on Middle East politics.
Gary said: 'I'm sorry. It's more important than the BBC. What's going on there (Gaza) is the mass murder of thousands of children — probably something that we should have a little opinion on.'
In 2023 he was temporarily removed from MOTD after likening the then-Tory government's asylum policy to rhetoric of Nazi Germany.
His co-presenters Alan Shearer and Ian Wright then boycotted the show and it went ahead without post-match analysis.
7
The former England captain presenting the BBC's World Cup 2002 coverage
Credit: BBC
Gary said of his colleagues' support: 'I had a tear in my eye. It just moved me, it was beautiful. It's one thing saying that in a moment, but then actually to carry that through, they didn't need to do that.'
Six months later the BBC published rules for its presenters which said they would be 'allowed to express views on issues and policies but stop short of political campaigning'.
Gary responded by saying the rules were 'all very sensible.'
He has previously said he believes the BBC wanted him to leave MOTD when he was negotiating a new contract last year.
Gary said then: 'I think it was their preference that I didn't do it for one more year, so they could bring in new people.'
Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan take over next season.
Gary's replacement as World Cup host is expected to be announced shortly.
7
Gary stripped down to his boxers live on air when Leicester won the Premier League in 2016
Credit: PA:Press Association
7
BBC boss Tim Davie said: 'I think we absolutely need people to be the exemplars of BBC values and follow our social media policies, simple as that'
Credit: Getty
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
The Tooney & Russo Show Inside Their Homes: Comforts, Cooking & Decor Secrets
Vick gets personal with Ella Toone and Alessia Russo, uncovering their home essentials, fridge must-haves, and signature dishes - including Tooney's go-to meal. Vick also shares why her childhood teddy, 'Snowy,' still means so much to her. The trio reveals their very different approaches to home decor, plus a nostalgic look back at the time Ella and Alessia shared a house in Manchester - where Tooney's obsession with Eton Mess truly began!
BBC News
30 minutes ago
- BBC News
PCs conquer three peaks for retired service dogs
A team of police dog handlers has completed a gruelling mountaineering challenge in aid of retired service constables from Northamptonshire and a sergeant from Leicestershire scaled the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland in just over 25 have so far raised more than £3,000, which will be split between two charities."This was, without doubt, the hardest and most physically demanding challenge that any of us have ever done," said PC Bradley Bowman. "We know that the Three Peaks Challenge is meant to be done in under 24 hours but considering the awful weather and some traffic disruption along the way, we're really proud of ourselves for completing it in the time we did. "Our bodies are now in pieces!" PCs Bowman, Daniel Bradley-Brophy, Lucy Sculthorpe and Sean Foster from Northamptonshire Police were joined by Sgt Grace Feavyour from titanic trio of mountains total a height of 3408m (11,182ft) over a distance of 23 miles (37km).The sun was beaming down on the team as it started its ascent of Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands on 13 June but the heavens opened an hour into the climb and continued throughout the was a weather warning in force at Scafell Pike in Cumbria, where thunder crashed around them in the early hours of the following day. The challengers finished with their descent of the rain-soaked Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, in Wales, that funds raised will go to the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals and Hero Paws - Life after Service, both of which look after dogs who have served with various organisations including the police, prison service and Border Force. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
40 minutes ago
- BBC News
Open-air summer Shakespeare group to debut at Buckden Towers
An open-air theatre group said it was excited to debut at the 11th Century former residence of Catherine of Aragon - the first wife of King Henry group, formerly named Shakespeare at The George, had its annual residency contract at the pub in Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire terminated by Greene King last year, after 65 24 June, it will start a run of performances of Twelfth Night at its new home in Buckden Towers, a few miles down the A1 in Milne, chair of the newly named Shakespeare at the Towers, said he was excited to hear what both new and loyal audiences thought of the historic space. The George Hotel had been an old Jacobean coaching inn where Shakespeare's plays would have been performed, and it had been an "astonishingly authentic venue" to put on the Milne, 54, said: "Every single thing has had to change - from 65 years of learning how one venue works and how the space works and what we need. It's a complete reset."[But] what's lovely about this place is it still has that historical authenticity."It formerly belonged to the bishops of Lincoln, and at one point Catherine of Aragon was kept here... It had lots of visits from kings and royalty."He continued: "It's well preserved and it really does feel like not much has changed... You could almost imagine you're here in mediaeval times, perhaps hearing of this young upcoming playwright called William something-or-other." The towers is about four miles (6.5km) away from the George, but Mr Milne anticipated the move would bring in new audiences as well as long-term added: "We are hoping to bring them with us. I'm really interested in seeing what they think, what changes they've seen, how they would compare the two experiences."I think I'm possibly even more excited by people who've never come across us before."The show will run at Buckden Towers from 24 June to 5 July this will be a captioned performance, sponsored by The Evelyn Glennie Foundation and a touch tour of the set and costumes for blind and partially sighted people before the performance on 30 June. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
