Lineker to leave BBC sooner than planned after antisemitism row

Gary Lineker has confirmed he will time off nan BBC aft presenting his last section of Match of nan Day connected Sunday.

The 64-year-old had been expected to proceed fronting sum of nan men's FA Cup and World Cup, but was criticised past week aft sharing a societal media station astir Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, historically utilized arsenic an antisemitic insult.

On Monday, Lineker said he did not spot nan image, and "would ne'er consciously repost thing antisemitic".

He added: "However, I recognise nan correction and upset that I caused, and reiterate really sorry I am. Stepping backmost now feels for illustration nan responsible people of action."

The BBC's head wide Tim Davie, said successful a statement: "Gary has acknowledged nan correction he made. Accordingly, we person agreed he will measurement backmost from further presenting aft this season.

"Gary has been a defining sound successful shot sum for nan BBC for complete 2 decades. His passion and knowledge person shaped our sports publicity and earned him nan respect of sports fans crossed nan UK and beyond. We want to convey him for nan publication he has made."

• A sorry extremity to Gary Lineker's BBC career
• Live updates: Host to time off nan BBC aft societal media 'error'
• From shot sensation to headline-hitting presenter

Lineker said: "Football has been astatine nan bosom of my life for arsenic agelong arsenic I tin retrieve – some connected nan transportation and successful nan studio.

"I attraction profoundly astir nan game, and astir nan activity I've done pinch nan BBC complete galore years. As I've said, I would ne'er consciously repost thing antisemitic – it goes against everything I guidelines for.

"However, I recognise nan correction and upset that I caused, and reiterate really sorry I am. Stepping backmost now feels for illustration nan responsible people of action."

In summation to nan written statement, nan erstwhile footballer besides posted a video connected Instagram.

He said he would "never, ever person shared" nan station if he had seen nan emoji, which he said "has atrocious connotations".

"I would for illustration erstwhile again to opportunity I'm sorry unreservedly for nan wounded and upset caused. It was a genuine correction and oversight," he continued. "But I should person been much diligent. I cognize that."

Lineker said he had "stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues, and against each forms of racism each of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, which I perfectly abhor".

He told his followers it was "best for each concerned" that he "step down from BBC presenting duties altogether".

Lineker described his 30 years astatine nan BBC arsenic a "pleasure and a immense privilege", adding that Match of nan Day had go "an integral portion of my life".

The presenter concluded by saying his narration pinch nan BBC had been "long and wonderful", but that it was "time for nan organisation and myself to spell our abstracted ways".

Replying to Lineker's post, Match of nan Day pundit Alan Shearer said: "Thank you for everything."

Writing to unit soon aft nan announcement, BBC Sport head Alex Kay-Jelski said he "appreciated nan past week has been difficult and affectional for galore of you".

He said it was "sad to beryllium saying goodbye to specified a superb broadcaster" and thanked Lineker "for his years of service".

He concluded: "Let's decorativeness nan play powerfully pinch Gary's last show, bask an unthinkable summertime of athletics and look guardant pinch excitement to what lies ahead."

Lineker and nan BBC had announced past twelvemonth that he would time off Match of nan Day astatine nan extremity of this season, which concludes connected Sunday.

But he had been owed to stay astatine nan forefront of nan BBC sum of nan men's FA Cup and nan World Cup successful 2026.

The erstwhile England striker replaced Des Lynam arsenic nan corporation's main presenter of Match of nan Day successful 1999.

In a caller question and reply pinch nan BBC's Amol Rajan he said he had a consciousness during his latest statement negotiations that nan BBC wanted him to measurement down from nan Premier League highlights show.

Roger Mosey, erstwhile head of BBC Sport and ex-head of BBC tv news, told Radio 4's Today programme connected Monday he believed nan "difficulty" was that "you can't some beryllium nan highest paid presenter and beryllium a societal media activist".

"I deliberation it's ever been a problem that allowing Gary to do nan magnitude of societal media he did and besides beryllium nan BBC's highest-paid presenter was ne'er going to beryllium easy," he said.

Lineker was temporarily suspended from nan BBC successful 2023 aft an impartiality statement complete comments he made criticising nan then-government's asylum policy.

He was besides among 500 different high-profile figures who signed an unfastened missive earlier this twelvemonth urging nan BBC to reinstate a documentary, Gaza: How To Survive A War Zone, to BBC iPlayer.

Lineker is besides nan co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, makers of nan celebrated The Rest Is History bid and its spin-offs astir politics, football, intermezo and money.

The parting of ways betwixt Lineker and nan BBC besides includes nan licensing woody for nan Goalhanger podcast titles connected BBC Sounds which ends this year, nan PA news agency reported.