Gary Lineker believes his final Match of the Day show could be hard work thanks to a tight battle for Champions League places at the Premier League’s summit. This admission comes as the 64-year-old will reportedly quit the BBC after meeting with bosses last week and agreeing to cut all ties to the corporation amid social media backlash.
Ex-England striker Lineker was set to depart the BBC stalwart programme at this season’s end after 26 years of playing host, though he was expected to continue with the broadcaster and front next term’s FA Cup and 2026 World Cup coverage. After coming under fire for sharing a controversial video on Instagram and being accused of antisemitism, forcing him to apologise, it is now expected that after his final Match of the Day broadcast, he’ll depart the BBC. But, before he sensationally waves goodbye, Lineker has come clean about what he expects to be a turbulent last broadcast, as the battle for the European places still on offer to leading top-flight clubs reaches boiling point.
With Liverpool and Arsenal having secured their spots for next season, Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest are all in contention to join them in the Champions League. “There is gonna be twists and turns,” predicted Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“I sense our last Match of the Day of the season… it will obviously be around the Champions League spots. I don’t know whether the plan will be when we go from one game to another, and tell the story of the afternoon, which editorially is difficult, but we’ve done it a few times before. But, I don’t think we’ve done it with five different teams, although it won’t be five different matches because Forest and Chelsea play each other. So it’ll be four games. It could be a bonkers night.”
Only three of the five will end up gracing the competition next term, with just a single point separating Newcastle in third and Forest in seventh. This close battle is why Lineker fears his final show will be a rollercoaster.
He issued an apology last week after a video shared on his social media account included a widely offensive image associated with antisemitism. He reposted a video from the campaign group Palestine Lobby, featuring a rat illustration. This symbol has been used in the past by Nazi Germany to dehumanise the Jewish population.
Last Wednesday, Lineker shared: “On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references. I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in. The post was removed as soon as I became aware of the issue.
“Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters. I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views. It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.”
Now, a source has told The Sun of his impending departure five days after this controversy, saying: “It is a heartbreaking end to an extraordinary broadcasting career. Gary acknowledged his position at the BBC, anchoring the most prestigious tournament in world football, was untenable, and he will not be hosting the World Cup. He offered to step down at the end of the season, and did not want the BBC - an organisation he still holds in the highest of esteem - dragged into any further controversy.”
Express.co.uk has contacted representatives for Gary Lineker and the BBC for comment.