Although the broadcaster has not yet issued an official statement, Gary Lineker has announced his departure from the BBC via an Instagram post. The sports journalist will not be part of the coverage for the 2026 World Cup.
The accusations of antisemitism emerged after Gary Lineker shared a pro-Palestinian video with a rat emoji in the caption — something that deeply upset some in the Jewish community.
Rats and other animals considered “pests” were used in Nazi propaganda in the 1930s as references to Jews. Lineker, a former striker for the English national team, was heavily criticized and later deleted the post.
The 64-year-old sports journalist released a video apologizing and saying he “would never knowingly share anything antisemitic.” He explained that he “did not notice” the emoji and that he would not have shared the post had he realized it.
Gary Lineker had previously criticized the Israeli invasion of Gaza following the October 7 attacks, among other issues.
“I have spoken out my entire life against any form of discrimination against minorities, including antisemitism,” he said.
In 2023, Gary Lineker was temporarily suspended by the BBC after comparing the rhetoric of the British Conservative government on immigration to that used in Nazi Germany. The suspension was lifted after colleagues went on strike in solidarity with him.
In the same video, the Match of the Day host said the next episode would be his last. He also confirmed that he would not take part in coverage of the 2026 World Cup or the 2025-26 FA Cup.
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Photo: Instagram @garylineker. Content produced with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
