Gary Lineker subtly hinted that his career at the BBC ‘wasn’t meant to end this way’ as he began his final Match of the Day show.
‘It wasn’t meant to end this way,’ he began, before a pause. ‘But with the title race over and the relegation places confirmed, the Champions League was all we had left to talk about.’
He was joined by long-time friends Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, with whom he hosts the popular The Rest Is Football podcast.
Lineker was condemned after sharing a pro-Palestine Instagram video which featured an emoji of a rat, with critics accusing him of promoting a familiar anti-Semitic slur.
The former England football captain posted a video in which Canadian-Palestinian lawyer Diana Buttu attacks Israel’s war in Gaza that had a cartoon image of a rat. Images of rats and other vermin were regularly used as tropes by Nazi Germany to depict Jewish people, as many of Lineker’s critics pointed out.
His final show was peppered with references to his departure.
Gary Lineker opened his final Match of the Day show with a subtle joke about it not being ‘meant to end this way’
Commentating on the Fulham vs Manchester City game, as Kevin De Bruyne was shown being substituted on, commentator Mark Scott quipped: ‘One of the best in the business makes his final appearance in front of the Match of the Day cameras today. And you can of course say the same about Kevin De Bruyne here at Fulham!’
Lineker confirmed his departure from the corporation earlier this month and ‘apologised unreservedly’ for his actions, saying he was unaware of the meaning of the symbol and added: ‘I would never consciously repost anything anti-Semitic – it goes against everything I stand for’.
He said that stepping down from his role with the BBC – where he was once the highest paid star – was ‘the responsible course of action’.
The former England striker will not front the public broadcaster’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup as planned, or coverage of the FA Cup next season.
It comes after the BBC’s plans to give Gary Lineker a final send off as he marks his last time hosting Match Of The Day were revealed.
More to follow.
