Gary Lineker will leave the BBC on Monday, with announcing his departure.
The 64-year-old will step down after his final Match of the Day performance over the weekend is causing a lot of speculation.
Despite previously announcing he would leave Match of the Day at the end of this season, Lineker was supposed to continue to be in charge of the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup and World Cup in 2026. He is currently the highest-paid presenter on the network.
Lineker expressed regret for the references, adding that he would never unintentionally share anything antisemitic.
Everyone cares about the BBC’s reputation, according to BBC Director General Tim Davie, and mistakes can cost us.
The former England striker has previously received negative feedback for his social media posts.
After a partial impartiality dispute over a post in which he claimed language used to promote a government asylum policy was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 1930s,” he was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023.
Presenters of flagship programs outside of news and current affairs, such as Match of the Day, have “a particular responsibility to respect the BBC’s impartiality, because of their profile on the BBC,” according to new social media rules from the BBC.
Lineker announced his retirement from Match of the Day in November 2024, but he said he would continue working for the BBC to provide coverage of the FA Cup and World Cup.
Lineker claimed in an earlier this year interview that he thought the BBC wanted him to leave Match of the Day while negotiating a new contract, adding that “someone might want me to leave.” That was perceived as well.
Lineker was referred to as a “world-class presenter” by the BBC at the time, but the show “continues to evolve for changing viewing habits.”
Source: BBC
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