Gary Lineker to leave BBC after this weekend's MOTD as TV star issues video statement amid Zionism tweet storm | OneFootball

‘Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season,’ says BBC director general Tim Davie

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker is leaving the BBC early and will not front its coverage of the 2026 World Cup, the broadcaster announced on Monday.

He rose to become the BBC's highest paid star after presenting its Match of the Day (MOTD) highlights show for 25 years. The BBC announced last November he would step down from MOTD this year but carry on working for it until 2026.

In a video message shared on social media, Lineker repeated his apology saying he would never consciously repost anything antisemitic.

He 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.

Gary Lineker declined to answer questions as he left his south-west London home on Monday afternoon

Ben Whitley/PA Wire

“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.”

Lineker has headed up Match of the Day since 1999, when he took over from Des Lynam.

It was earlier reported that the BBC’s bosses considered his position “untenable” despite his apology.

The Sun reported that a source said: “It is a heartbreaking end to an extraordinary broadcasting career.”

See also: Gary Lineker’s most controversial tweets

The former Barcelona, Tottenham and Everton striker is still set to host his final Match of the Day this weekend.

He headed up the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup final on Saturday, which saw Crystal Palace beat Manchester City 1-0.

Lineker was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then-government’s new asylum policy.

He was also among 500 other high-profile figures who signed an open letter in February urging the BBC to rebroadcast a documentary, Gaza: How To Survive A War Zone, to BBC iPlayer.

Last November, Lineker announced he would be stepping down from presenting Match of the Day at the end of the season, but would still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.

The presenter has been the BBC’s highest-paid on-air talent for seven consecutive years and was estimated to have earned £1.35 million in the year 2023/24, according to the corporation’s annual report published in July.

When he stepped down, it was reported that he was open to staying on at Match of the Day but was not offered a new deal for the show.

The Leicester-born star will be replaced by Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman, who will share the presenting role on Match of the Day from the next Premier League season.

Lineker joined the programme having started as a BBC Radio Five Live presenter, also working on Grandstand during his early years in broadcasting.

The former England striker is the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, makers of the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money.