Gary Lineker will leave his role as a presenter with the BBC following controversy over a social media post involving a depiction widely regarded as antisemitic. The 64-year-old former England footballer and long-time host of Match of the Day will step down from all BBC duties after the season finale of the programme next weekend.
The decision comes after Lineker reposted an Instagram story from the group Palestine Lobby, which featured a video titled “Zionism explained in two minutes” and included an image of a rat. The use of such imagery has historically been associated with antisemitic propaganda, including material used by the Nazis in 1930s Germany.
Lineker, who was previously set to continue presenting other BBC football coverage — including next year’s Men’s World Cup — will now exit the corporation entirely. He is currently the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, earning approximately £1.3 million per year.
In a statement released on Monday, BBC Director-General Tim Davie said:
“Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.”
Lineker has apologised for the incident, stating he had unknowingly shared a post that included “offensive references,” and removed it as soon as he became aware of its content.
“I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic,” he said, adding: “Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember — both on the pitch and in the studio. I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
In a separate video statement on Instagram, Lineker described the repost as a “genuine mistake,” saying:
“I should have been more diligent. I 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.”
Lineker’s political commentary on social media has frequently tested the BBC’s impartiality guidelines. In March 2023, he was briefly suspended for criticising the Conservative government’s asylum policy — a moment that prompted the broadcaster to revise its social media rules for high-profile presenters, urging them to “respect the BBC’s impartiality.”
Earlier this year, Lineker was among 500 public figures who signed an open letter calling for the BBC to reinstate a documentary on Gaza to its iPlayer service. The programme was withdrawn after it was revealed the teenage narrator was the son of a Hamas official.
Lineker has hosted Match of the Day since 1999 and has also worked with international networks including NBC, Al Jazeera, and BT Sport. His departure marks the end of an era for the BBC’s football coverage and comes amid ongoing debate over freedom of expression, political activism, and public broadcaster impartiality.