Gary Lineker, Excapitan of the English team and football figure on British television for more than two decades, will leave the BBCas announced by the chain in a statement on Monday. Lineker, 64, planned to cover the 2026 World Cup for the chain, but its anticipated departure occurs after apologizing last week to share a publication on social networks about the Zionism that included the image of a rat, an anti -Semitic insult.
It became the best paid star of the BBC after presenting the 'Match of the Day' (Motd) program for 25 years. The BBC announced last November that it would leave the Motd this year, but that it would continue working for the chain until 2026. “Gary has recognized the mistake he made. Therefore, we have agreed that he will stop presenting after this season,” said the general director of the BBC, Tim Davie, in a statement.
Lineker reiterated his apologies, stating that he would never consciously publish anything anti -Semitic. “I recognize the error and discomfort that I caused and reiterate my deep regret. Taking a step back now seems to me responsible action,” he said. In recent years, Linker's desire to express his political opinions in social networks has caused BBC problems, which has strict rules of impartiality. Nevertheless, weeks ago he said he would have liked to continue in the chain.
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It was temporarily removed from the air in 2023 after criticizing the immigration policy of the previous government on social networks. In 2018, he opposed Brexit and asked for a second referendum. Lineker apologized without reservations last week for republicar material on Instagram, stating that he deleted the publications after learning of the offensive references.
