why did gary lineker leave bbc

Gary Lineker left the BBC earlier than originally planned after a controversy involving a social media post he shared about Zionism, which included an illustration of a rat, a symbol historically associated with antisemitism. He apologized, stating that he did not notice the image and would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. The BBC management regarded his position as untenable following this incident. Before this, Lineker had been temporarily suspended in 2023 over social media comments criticizing the government’s asylum policy, which led to the BBC setting new social media guidelines for its presenters. Despite planning to continue with BBC coverage of the FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup, the fallout from his latest social media incident caused the BBC and Lineker to mutually agree that he would step down entirely after the current season ended in May 2025. Lineker expressed regret, describing his time at the BBC as a joy and an honor, but felt stepping down was the responsible decision. BBC’s director general praised Lineker for his long-standing contribution to sports journalism and his influence on football broadcasting. Lineker’s final show on Match of the Day marked the end of a 26-year career with the BBC.