Gary Lineker: Why Match of the Day presenter dey comot BBC sooner dan plan

Gary Lineker don confam say im go comot BBC afta e present im final episode of Match of The Day on Sunday, 25 May.

Di 64-year-old bin dey expect say im go continue to dey front di coverage of di FA Cup and World Cup, but e face accuse last week afta e share one social media post about Zionism wey include foto of one rat, wey for history, dem dey use as antisemitic insult.

On Monday, Lineker tok say im no see di foto, and "im no go ever consciously repost anything antisemitic".

E add: "However, I understand di error and trouble I don cause, and I tok am again I dey very sorry. Stepping back now feel like di responsible course of action."

Di presenter bifor now don attract criticism for im social media posts, but di latest example be like di last straw for im bosses, wey consider im position weak, BBC culture and media editor Katie Razzall tok.

BBC director general Tim Davie, for statement tok say: "Gary don acknowledge di mistake e make. Accordingly, we don agree say e go step back from further presenting afta dis season.

"Gary be defining voice in football coverage for di BBC for ova two decades. Im passion and knowledge don shape our sports journalism and earn am di respect of sports fans across di UK and beyond. We wan thank am for di contribution e don make."

Lineker say: "Football don dey di heart of my life for as long as I fit remember – both on di pitch and for studio.

"I care deeply about di game, and about di work I don do wit di BBC ova many years. As I say, I no go ever consciously repost anything antisemitic – e go against everything I stand for.

"However, I recognise di error and trouble wey I cause, and I repeat am again, I dey sorry. Stepping back now feel like di responsible course of action."

In addition to di written statement, di former footballer also post one video on Instagram.

E say im no go "ever, ever share" di post if e see di emoji, wey e tok say "get bad meaning".

"I go like to once again tok say I dey sorry for di hurt and trouble e cause. Na genuine mistake and oversight," e continue. "But I suppose dey more careful. I know dat."

Lineker tok say im don "stand up for minorities and humanitarian issues, and against all forms of racism all of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, wey I totally hate.".

E tell im followers say na for di "best for all concerned" say im dey "step down from BBC presenting duties altogether".

Lineker describe im 30 years journey for di BBC as a "pleasure and ogbonge privilege", e add say Match of di Day don become "important part of my life".

Di presenter conclude im statement say im relationship wit BBC don dey "long and wonderful", but "time don reach for im and di organisation to go our separate ways".

Replying to Lineker post, Match of di Day pundit Alan Shearer say: "Thank you for everything."

'Difficult and emotional week'

Writing to staff shortly afta di announcement, BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski tok say im "understand say di last week dey difficult and emotional for many of you".

E say e dey "sad to say goodbye to dat kain brilliant broadcaster" and e thank Lineker "for im years of service".

E conclude: "Make we finish dis season strongly wit Gary final show, enjoy correct summer of sport and look forward wit excitement to wetin lie ahead."

Lineker and di BBC bin announce last year say im go leave Match of di Day for di end of dis season, wey go end on Sunday.

But di arrangement na say e go continue to front di BBC coverage of di men's FA Cup and di World Cup for 2026.

Di former England striker replace Des Lynam as di corporation main presenter of Match of di Day for 1999.

For one recent interview wit BBC Amol Rajan e say im bin know say di BBC want make e step down from di Premier League highlights show.

Roger Mosey, former director of BBC Sport and ex-head of BBC television news, tell Radio 4 Today programme on Monday im believe say di "difficulty" na say "you no fit be di highest paid presenter and be a social media activist".

Dem temporarily suspend Lineker from di BBC for 2023 afta one impartiality mata on top comments e make wey e criticise di den-government asylum policy.

E also dey among 500 oda high-profile figures wey sign one open letter earlier dis year wey ask di BBC to bring back one documentary, Gaza: How To Survive A War Zone, to BBC iPlayer.

Lineker also na di co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, makers of di popular The Rest Is History series and di programme dey about about politics, football, entertainment and money.

Di parting of ways between Lineker and di BBC also include di licensing deal for di Goalhanger podcast titles on BBC Sounds wey go end dis year, di PA news agency report.