The BBC and Gary Lineker have confirmed that they are to part company after next Sunday’s final Match of the Day of the season following another social media drama for the presenter.
Lineker said: “Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio. I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years. As I’ve said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for.
“However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”
Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, said: “Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.
“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. We want to thank him for the contribution he has made.”
READ MORE: Gary Lineker to leave BBC following latest social media storm
Last week, the 64-year-old apologised after it emerged he had reposted a pro-Palestine video to his 1.2m followers on Instagram that criticised Zionism and included an illustration of a rat.
A rat is a common antisemitic trope that was frequently used in Nazi Germany to show Jews as vermin. Lineker deleted the post claiming he had not noticed the rat and said in a statement at the time that he would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic.”
However, Davie had been facing calls all week to sack Lineker, including from more than 10,000 people who signed a petition demanding the BBC let him go. Lineker was the BBC’s highest paid presenter last year on £1.35m.
Davie was confronted by one of his own journalists over Lineker at a high-profile speech about the corporation’s future in Salford last week and said: “The BBC’s reputation is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us,. I think we absolutely need people to be exemplars of the BBC’s values and follow our social media policy. Simple as that.”
An email sent to staff from BBC head of sport this afternoon read: “”You will have seen in the past few minutes that Gary Lineker will be leaving the BBC at the end of the current football season.
“I appreciate the last week has been difficult and emotional for many of you. Thank you for all the messages and conversations, even if some of them weren’t easy to have. And I hope you understand that I had to wait until now to tell you the news.
“It is sad to be saying goodbye to such a brilliant broadcaster and I also want to thank Gary for his years of service. As ever, if you have questions, you know where I am.
“Let’s finish the season strongly with Gary’s final show, enjoy an incredible summer of sport and look forward with excitement to what lies ahead.”
