Gary Lineker to leave BBC after antisemitism allegations over social media post

Renowned BBC presenter and commentator, former footballer Gary Lineker, is set to depart from the British public broadcaster this week. This move follows a campaign initiated after allegations surfaced that he shared an “antisemitic” video on social media.

Last week, Lineker, who is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter and was scheduled to host the 2026 World Cup broadcasts, shared a video related to Zionism. This video featured a mouse illustration, which was alleged to be a “historically common antisemitic symbol.” The inclusion of this image ignited fierce criticism and a significant campaign against him.

On Monday, Lineker, 64, stated he had not noticed the mouse illustration within the video and affirmed, “I would never consciously share anything antisemitic.” Despite this, he agreed to resign, considering it “the responsible course of action.”

Tim Davie, the BBC Director-General, commented on Monday that Lineker “acknowledged his mistake” and had agreed to “step down from presenting after this season.”

Lineker has long been an outspoken voice on social media regarding the Palestinian cause and critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza. In an interview with The Telegraph last week, Lineker expressed, “People say it’s a complex issue, but I don’t think so. It was inevitable that Israel’s occupation would lead to major problems, and I feel very sorry for the Palestinians.”

The former captain of the England football team had previously encountered controversy due to his social media activity. His comparison of the UK’s asylum policies to those of 1930s Nazi Germany led to his temporary suspension from the BBC. Lineker, who defended his comparison, was eventually reinstated.

In November, Lineker had already announced his intention to leave the football highlights program Match of the Day, a show he has hosted since 1999. Its final episode under his tenure is set to air this Sunday.

Before this “antisemitism” controversy altered his trajectory, Lineker was anticipated to remain with the BBC. His future commitments included presenting several key domestic football matches and the upcoming World Cup, scheduled to be held in North America next year.