Gary Lineker reveals truth behind Match of the Day exit - 'I'm not an idiot'

Gary Lineker has clarified that the decision for him to part ways with the BBC before his contract ended was not his own, following a controversy where the Match of the Day host shared an alleged antisemitic post on social media.

Lineker faced backlash after sharing a pro-Palestine video that included a rat emoji earlier this year. This sparked outrage and led to demands for the BBC to dismiss Lineker rather than letting the former England forward complete his contract term.

In May, it was revealed that Lineker would depart from the BBC at the close of the 2024-25 season, with the esteemed presenter commenting that "stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action."

However, in a recent interview with The New World, Lineker disclosed the true circumstances surrounding his departure.

When questioned whether his exit was voluntary or if he was forced out, he responded: "The latter."

Reflecting on the event, he remarked: "I missed it (the rat emoji). To be honest, I wouldn't have understood the connotations anyway until it was pointed out to me.

"I genuinely didn't see it. I'm not an idiot. I may not have known it was an antisemitic trope, but I would have wondered why someone had put a rat there. Why would you ever conflate a rodent with a human?

"I wouldn't do that on purpose – it would be the biggest act of self-harm ever. But, yeah, it was a tough couple of days."

Lineker, who was scheduled to lead the BBC's coverage of the FA Cup in the upcoming season and the 2026 World Cup, promptly deleted the post and issued a public apology.

However, this wasn't sufficient, and it was decided that Lineker would depart from the corporation earlier than planned, rather than continue his appearances in the 2025-26 season.

In a statement released at the time, Lineker expressed his regret once more, stating: "Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio.

"I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years. As I've said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for.

"However, I recognize the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am.

"Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action."

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