Gary Lineker has QUIT the BBC after the explosive anti-Semitic rat post – and will not front the 2026 World Cup coverage
Gary Lineker is set to set to step down from the BBC tomorrow over antisemitism allegations and will not helm the broadcaster’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup.
The long-standing sports broadcaster was condemned for his now-deleted Instagram video story that prompted backlash from sections of the Jewish community.
The post featured a pro-Palestine video featuring an anti-Jewish rat slur, with the Match of the Day presenter insisting he would ‘never knowingly share anything anti-Semitic’.
Lineker, 64, apologised unreservedly for the ‘mistake’ saying ‘that image does not reflect my views’.
The image of rats and vermin are considered provocative since they were widely used as propaganda against Jews in 1930s Nazi Germany.
The former England striker was already set to leave his role as presenter of Match of the Day at the end of the season, but will now no longer host the corporation’s coverage of the FA Cup in 2025-26 and the World Cup in 2026.
On Saturday afternoon, he took to TV screens across the country again to front coverage of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace from Wembley alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney.
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
