Former England captain and long-time Match of the Day host Gary Lineker will leave the BBC after the current football season. His exit comes shortly after he shared — and later deleted — a social media post featuring an image criticized as anti-Semitic. Lineker issued a public apology, acknowledging the mistake and saying stepping down is the responsible choice.

The BBC confirmed Lineker won’t take part in its 2026 World Cup or FA Cup coverage. Director-General Tim Davie praised his decades-long contribution to football broadcasting.

Lineker, 64, had already planned to leave Match of the Day after 26 years. His final appearance will air following the last Premier League match of the season. Known for his outspoken social media presence, Lineker has previously clashed with the BBC over impartiality rules, most notably in 2023 when he was briefly suspended over a tweet comparing UK immigration policy rhetoric to Nazi Germany.

He remains the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, earning £1.35 million annually.

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