The BBC has been accused of giving Gary Lineker a “hero’s farewell” by allowing him a Match of the Day “swansong” on Sunday.

Copyright 2025 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

Gary Lineker has confirmed that he is leaving the BBC in a new video message. The former striker turned sports presenter has fronted football coverage for the broadcaster since the 1990s, including Match of the Day, and has been one of the BBC's highest-paid on-air talents.

Forty summers after Gary Lineker had become a national goalscoring hero with England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the 2026 finals in the same country — as well as co-hosts the U.S. and Canada — were to be his farewell to the BBC.

Por STEVE DOUGLASGary Lineker, el astro del fútbol inglés que se transformó en celebridad de los medios, dejará su papel como presentador de la BBC tras enfrentar críticas

It is such a pity that Gary Lineker is leaving the BBC in this manner. His comments outside of sport have brought the world tumbling down on him and, clearly, it was a nonsense for him to have shared what is deemed to be an anti-Semitic message.

His departure means someone will need to fill his vacant spot presenting the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup next year, as well as the FA Cup, which he had been set to return to. Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman were previously announced as the new Match of the Day presenters from next season onwards.

GARY Lineker’s BBC exit is set to spark an intense rivalry between his Match Of The Day successors over who will lead the World Cup coverage. Insiders said that Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Kelly