By Rob Harris
London: Gary Lineker has long been the golden boy of British soccer – and not just for the goals.
In the decades since hanging up his boots, the former England striker has become a media empire in himself: the unflappable face of Match of the Day, a podcasting powerhouse and – with a $3.6 million salary – one of the BBC’s highest-paid presenters. But after a stormy week of controversy, that empire is showing cracks.
Gary Lineker this week apologised after sharing an antisemitic post on Instagram.Credit: AP
This weekend, Lineker will host the FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace, but speculation is building that it will be his last hurrah. At 64, the man who once topped England’s World Cup scoring charts now finds himself under intense scrutiny – not for anything on the pitch, but for a social media misstep that has ignited tensions within the BBC and beyond.
Earlier this week, Lineker shared – and swiftly deleted – an Instagram post from the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Lobby. It featured an emoji of a rat, a symbol with deep and disturbing antisemitic connotations, under the heading “Zionism explained in less than 2 mins”. The outrage was instant. Jewish groups, BBC colleagues and media commentators condemned the post. Some within the BBC called for his removal ahead of Saturday’s broadcast.
Lineker issued an “unreserved apology”, a rare retreat from someone who has never shied away from political commentary.
“I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic,” he said. “It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.” For many inside the BBC, though, the damage was already done.
The crisis was inflamed further by a London Telegraph interview published days later, in which Lineker took a pointed swipe at BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, suggesting he lacked the necessary TV experience.
It’s a dramatic fall from grace for someone once seen as untouchable in British broadcasting.
Lineker’s outspoken comments have caused repeated headaches for his BBC bosses.Credit: Bloomberg
Lineker first earned the public’s affection with his prolific goal-scoring at the 1986 World Cup, where he claimed the Golden Boot. He was admired not only for his footballing intelligence with Leicester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona, but also for his sportsmanship, famously completing his career without ever receiving a yellow or red card.
‘Gary’s behaviour is starting to wear a bit thin.’
Senior BBC Sport manager
The corporation is said to be discussing the fallout at the highest levels. BBC director-general Tim Davie, speaking at BBC Sport headquarters in northern England this week, did not name Lineker directly but made his expectations clear.
“The BBC’s reputation is held by everyone, and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us … We need people to be exemplars of BBC values and follow our social media policies. Simple as that.”
The question now is whether his immense popularity and longstanding legacy will be enough to see him through this crisis or if the BBC will ultimately sever ties.
Testing the limits
This isn’t the first time Lineker has tested the limits of BBC impartiality. In 2023, he sparked a media storm after likening UK immigration rhetoric to that of 1930s Germany – comments that led to his temporary suspension. Back then, his colleagues rallied to his side, forcing the BBC to back down.
This time, however, the mood is different. Media reports describe frustration, not solidarity.
Despite the BBC controversies, Lineker is not without his supporters.Credit: Getty
“Gary’s behaviour is starting to wear a bit thin,” one senior figure at BBC Sport reportedly told staff. “We’ve got enough to be getting on with.”
In November, Lineker and the BBC agreed to part ways after the 2026 World Cup. That arrangement now looks in jeopardy. Lineker has built a media persona on being politically engaged, particularly vocal on refugee rights and, more recently, Gaza. But this time, his activism has veered into territory the BBC considers deeply problematic.
Away from the BBC, Lineker’s career remains buoyant. His foray into podcasting has been lucrative, with his production company Goalhanger co-creating The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics and other chart-topping shows that pull in millions of listeners weekly. The former striker has become a media entrepreneur as much as a broadcaster, with a presence that rivals mainstream outlets in reach and influence.
A young Lineker with then-England manager Bobby Robson ahead of the 1986 Mexico World Cup.Credit: AP Wirephoto
But none of that offers a free pass from institutional standards. The BBC, still navigating its own identity in a politically divided Britain, is under increasing pressure to draw the line, especially when the controversy involves its best-paid presenter. It’s a difficult equation: ditch Lineker and risk backlash from loyal fans, or stand by him and alienate staff and viewers offended by his online actions.
For now, Lineker is still standing. He will be at Wembley on Saturday, microphone in hand, fronting a show he has defined for more than two decades.
For a man who built his career on calm precision in front of goal, Lineker now finds himself on an unfamiliar side of the scoreboard – and the final whistle may be closer than he thinks.
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