Gary Lineker's final interview as host of Match of the Day, planned with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, was quietly cancelled by the BBC shortly before his farewell episode, it has emerged.
The former England striker, 64, stepped down from the programme last weekend after 25 years, following an agreement to part ways earlier than expected.
The decision came in the wake of Lineker apologising for sharing a social media post deemed antisemitic, prompting discussions with BBC leadership that led to his early exit.
According to a report by The Sun, Lineker had been scheduled to interview Salah in what would have been his last segment for both Match of the Day and Football Focus.
However, the BBC pulled the interview at short notice. Sources cited in the report suggest the decision may have been driven by concerns that the conversation could touch on the ongoing war in Gaza.
Salah has publicly voiced support for Palestinians in Gaza, while Lineker has previously commented on the issue, prompting speculation that their conversation would touch on the genocide in the Palestinian enclave.
A source told the newspaper: "Some people think they didn’t want Gary and Mo to talk about Gaza. It felt like it may have come up naturally in conversation. It seems they axed it rather than risk possible editorial issues."
The BBC, however, denied any political motive. A spokesperson said: "The interview was cancelled because it was planned to air after Gary's last Match of the Day. It would be wrong to suggest anything else."
Lineker signed off with an emotional message during his final appearance, thanking his colleagues and viewers: "It’s been an absolute privilege to host Match of the Day for a quarter of a century. It’s been utterly joyous… Thank you for all of your love and support over the years. It’s been so special – and I’m sorry that your team was always on last. Time to say goodbye. Goodbye."
It was not the first time Lineker had come into conflict with BBC management over political or humanitarian commentary. In March 2023, he was suspended for criticising government asylum policy, but was reinstated after a boycott by colleagues.
Earlier in 2025, Lineker was among hundreds who signed an open letter urging the BBC to rebroadcast a documentary on Gaza, reflecting his ongoing engagement with humanitarian issues related to the region.
The BBC came under fire for withdrawing a documentary about children in Gaza entitled, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, and delaying the broadcast of another about medical workers in the war-torn enclave entitled: Gaza: Medics Under Fire.
The documentary was cleared for release in February 2025, with critics, including Lineker, accusing the broadcaster of censorship for withholding frontline testimony from Gaza’s health workers.