New Delhi: Gary Lineker, the iconic football figure in England, will leave his role as a presenter for the BBC following a controversial social media post that drew massive flak. Lineker, who is facing criticism for reposting his Instagram story about Zionism, which featured a picture of a rat, will leave the flagship football highlights show “Match of the Day” after serving the role for 25 years.
The 64-year-old legendary footballer and a successful broadcaster is the British national broadcaster’s highest-paid presenter, on close to $1.7 million a year. He was on the verge of leaving the “MOTD” programme at the end of this season but remained with the broadcasters to front other football coverage, including next year’s FIFA World Cup.
However, the BBC has now released a statement that Lineker will step down from the BBC after final “Match of the Day” episode next weekend in the aftermath of his Instagram post from the group, Palestine Lobby, illustrated with a picture of a rat, titled: “Zionism explained in two minutes.”
Rats, linked to disease, were used to represent Jews in antisemitic propaganda throughout history, including in the Nazi Germany in 1930s.
“Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made,” BBC director-general Tim Davie said. “Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.”
Apologising last week for his conduct, Lineker last week said that he had shared the post in haste before learning it contained “offensive references”. He withdrew the post as soon as he became aware of the issue and “would never knowingly share anything antisemitic.”
Lineker’s tryst with controversy
The legendary footballer was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 over comments he made criticising the then-Conservative government’s new asylum policy. In the wake of the controversy, the BBC changed the rules on social media posts shared by the high-profile presenters hosting shows outside news.
Lineker’s stance on the Israel-Palestine war has also sparked controversies in the past.
Lineker, one of the greatest players in England’s football history, scored 48 goals in 80 international games and was the leading scorer at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Following his retirement from his playing career, he made a successful career as a TV personality with 8.7 million followers on X and 1.2 million followers on Instagram.
He has been the main presenter of BBC’s “Match of the Day” since 1999.
Lineker, who represented Everton, Tottenham and Barcelona in club football, is also the co-founder of the hugely successful “Goalhanger” podcasts.
(With AP Inputs)
BBC has released a statement that Gary Lineker will step down from the BBC after final “Match of the Day” episode next weekend in the aftermath of his controversial Instagram post. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
