Broadcasting legend quits after social media outrage
<p>Gary Lineker, the former England footballer turned prominent BBC presenter, will leave the British broadcaster entirely after facing backlash over a controversial social media post involving Zionism and antisemitic imagery.</p>
<p>The 64-year-old, who has been the face of the BBC’s flagship football program <em>Match of the Day</em> since 1999 and the broadcaster’s highest-paid presenter with an annual salary exceeding $2.6 million, had initially planned to step down from <em>Match of the Day</em> at the end of the current season but continue with other football-related coverage, including next year’s men’s World Cup.</p>
<p>However, the BBC confirmed on Monday that Lineker will now step down from all roles following his reposting of an Instagram story from the group Palestine Lobby. The post, titled “Zionism explained in two minutes”, included an image of a rat – an animal historically used in antisemitic propaganda to dehumanise Jews, notably by the Nazis in 1930s Germany.</p>
<p>“Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made,” said BBC Director-General Tim Davie. “Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.”</p>
<p>Lineker apologised last week, saying he had shared the post without realising the offensive imagery and removed it once he was made aware. “I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic,” he said.</p>
<p>In a follow-up video posted to Instagram, Lineker called the incident a “genuine mistake” and expressed his lifelong commitment to fighting racism, including antisemitism. “There’s no place for it, and never should be,” he said.</p>
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<p>Lineker’s departure comes after ongoing tensions between the broadcaster’s impartiality rules and the presenter’s outspoken political views. He was suspended in March 2023 for criticising the Conservative government’s asylum policy, prompting the BBC to revise its social media guidelines for high-profile non-news presenters.</p>
<p>More recently, he was among a group of 500 public figures who signed a letter urging the BBC to reinstate a controversial documentary, <em>Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone</em>, after it was removed due to concerns over its young narrator’s family ties to Hamas. Last week, Lineker further stirred debate by criticising Western silence over Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying such silence was “almost complicit”.</p>
<p>His stance has drawn strong reactions. The Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed his resignation, accusing Lineker of “abusing his position to promote his increasingly propagandist politics” and calling him “a symbol of the rot at the heart of our national broadcaster”.</p>
<p>Despite the controversy, many continue to view Lineker as a national figurehead. A legendary footballer with 48 goals in 80 appearances for England and the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup, Lineker successfully transitioned into a celebrated broadcaster. With 8.7 million followers on X and 1.2 million on Instagram, his media influence extended well beyond the football pitch.</p>
<p>“Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember,” Lineker said in a statement. “I care deeply about the game and the work I’ve done with the BBC. I recognise the error and the upset I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”</p>
<p>Davie praised Lineker’s legacy: “Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades. His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond.”</p>
<p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>