Gary Lineker’s long and often controversial run at the BBC has finally come to an end, and despite the official line calling it a “mutual” parting of ways, it’s pretty clear the Corporation had had enough. This follows the outrage over a tweet he shared comparing Jews to rats, which triggered backlash so fierce it left the broadcaster with no choice but to act.
Though he issued a full apology, it did little to calm the storm. This wasn’t a one-off. Lineker’s social media has long been a flashpoint, from calling the October 7 Hamas attack “the Hamas thing” to reposting a clip where Israel was accused of “genocidal killing.” These kinds of posts, especially while he was still the BBC’s top-earning presenter, pushed the limits of what the public expected from someone tied to an organisation meant to stay neutral, reported GB News.
The BBC had been criticised for years for not taking a firmer stance, with Lineker frequently tweeting about politics, immigration, and the Tories, despite being a high-profile face of the supposedly impartial broadcaster. Even Labour’s Keir Starmer hasn’t escaped his critique — though Lineker still claimed “no one knows my politics,” which raised more than a few eyebrows.
What’s fuelled the reaction this time isn’t just the tweet itself, but the repeated pattern. Jewish staff at the BBC have lodged formal complaints, not just about the recent post but about a broader culture of failing to tackle antisemitism, especially when it came from high-profile names like Lineker. After all, when you’re on £1.3 million a year and beamed into homes every Saturday night, people expect a bit more care — and a lot less controversy.
Initially, there were whispers he might be allowed to stay on in some reduced role. But those hopes vanished after last week’s tense meeting with top brass. He won’t even be involved in future World Cup coverage, a huge fall from grace for someone once seen as the voice of football in the UK.
Lineker won’t be short of money, that’s for sure. With podcast deals and business ventures to fall back on, he’ll be fine financially. But his carefully crafted image — the cheeky, affable ex-footie star who leaped national treasure — has taken a massive hit.
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