why did gary lineker leave match of the day

Gary Lineker left Match of the Day and the BBC earlier than originally planned after a social media controversy. He shared a post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, a symbol historically associated with antisemitism, which caused significant backlash. Although Lineker apologized, stating he did not notice the image and would never intentionally share anything antisemitic, the incident was seen as untenable by BBC management. This led to a mutual agreement for him to step down immediately rather than continuing with the BBC's future coverage of the FA Cup and 2026 World Cup as initially planned. Lineker had already announced he would leave Match of the Day at the end of the season, feeling the BBC wanted to refresh the show with new presenters. He expressed that while he enjoyed his time, he sensed the BBC preferred him to step aside. The BBC’s director general acknowledged Lineker’s contributions and the decision was framed as responsible given the circumstances. Lineker bid a tearful farewell to the show, thanking colleagues and fans but did not directly address the departure’s reasons on air. His departure marked the end of a 26-year tenure as the iconic football highlights show presenter.