Gary Lineker is reportedly set to step down from the BBC on Monday following growing backlash over a controversial social media post that sparked accusations of anti-Semitism
Former England footballer and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker is expected to leave the BBC by mutual agreement, amid escalating criticism surrounding his recent social media activity.
The fallout began last Monday after Lineker, 64, shared a pro-Palestinian video on Instagram that included a rat emoji which is a symbol historically used in Nazi propaganda to dehumanize Jewish people. The post drew widespread condemnation and was quickly deleted. Lineker issued an apology, but the controversy continued to intensify throughout the week.
Pressure on the broadcaster increased on Thursday after The Telegraph published a revealing interview in which Lineker expanded on his criticism of Israel’s actions and appeared to take aim at senior figures within the BBC.
According to sources, plans for Lineker to lead BBC coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have now been scrapped. His early departure from the broadcaster is expected to be confirmed today.
The Match of the Day star, who is the highest-paid presenter at the BBC apologised for sharing a video an anti-Zionism video. The post featured a picture of a rat, which has historically been used as an antisemitic insult, referring to language used in Nazi Germany to characterise Jews.
Gary immediately deleted the post after realising the significance of the symbol, according to his agent. Last Tuesday afternoon, he also issued a statement in which he “apologised unreservedly” for his “mistake”.
“On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references,” he said in a statement. “I very much regret these references. “I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.”
The Match of the Day presenter said he deleted the post “as soon as I became aware of the issue. Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters,” Lineker continued.
“I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views. It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly,” he concluded.
Gary had been due to leave the BBC after the 2026 World Cup but the long-standing Match of the Day host appears ready to bring an early end to his time with the broadcaster. The seasoned presenter has quit amid the backlash to a social media post on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
He reshared content from the group Palestine Lobby, prompting claims from Campaign Against Antisemitism that they would be lodging a complaint.
Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, previously issued a response to the backlash. “The BBC’s reputation is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us,” he said.
Back in 2023, Lineker was taken off the air for an episode of Match of the Day following comments about Conservative government language.
“We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries,” he wrote. “This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I’m out of order?”
In a recent interview with the BBC’s Amol Rajan, Lineker questioned the Beeb’s social media guidelines. “The impartiality rules were for people in news and current affairs. They have subsequently changed,” he said.
“But that left people like me, who has always given his honest opinions about things. Then they suddenly changed them and you have to go, ‘Oh, I’ve got to be impartial now’. It doesn’t make any sense.
“Why worry about the people who don’t like you. This is the mistake the BBC makes. The BBC tries to appease the people that hate the BBC. The people who always attack the licence fee. They worry far too much about that, rather than worrying about the people who love the BBC.”
“Why shouldn’t I have an opinion on things?” Lineker asked in the same interview with Rajan. “I’ve always been strong on humanitarian issues and always will be, and that’s me. The goalposts were massively moved because it was never an issue until, suddenly, this point.
“It was always stipulated in the BBC guidelines that in terms of impartiality, it was for people who work in news and current affairs. I am very, very thoughtful about what I say. They took me off air and it was a silly overreaction.”
Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
