Gary Lineker, who’s quickly to hold up his Match of the Day boots after 25 years, has mentioned he felt the BBC wished him to go away the weekly highlights present.
Lineker, who has had a chequered relationship with the nationwide broadcaster over the previous couple of years, instructed BBC presenter Amol Rajan “maybe they wished me to go away… there was a way of that” when discussing his exit.
He was responding to a query from Rajan for an Amol Rajan Interviews episode on why he’s selecting to go away now when the present is doing so properly. “Maybe they wished me to go away,” was Lineker’s response.
Lineker, who’s being replaced by three hosts subsequent season, is remaining with the BBC to current FA Cup and World Cup protection together with podcasts and he mentioned that whereas this transfer is “barely uncommon… to be trustworthy it’s a state of affairs that fits me completely.”
The BBC didn’t touch upon at present’s Lineker remarks however pointed Deadline to the assertion made on the time he introduced his exit, which was billed as “Gary Lineker agrees a contract extension with the BBC.” At the moment in November 2024, BBC sport boss Alex Kay-Jelski referred to as Lineker a “world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our protection of the following World Cup and proceed to steer our dwell protection of the FA Cup.”
Lineker’s newest feedback, which at the moment are accessible to observe on BBC iPlayer, might reopen wounds.
The ex-soccer professional kickstarted an unprecedented BBC presenter strike when he was stood down from Match of the Day internet hosting duties two years in the past after posting a tweet evaluating UK authorities coverage on small boats to that of Nazi Germany.
Lineker returned the next week however sparked a complete assessment into BBC presenters’ use of social media and Lineker’s social media use has since raised questions. Final yr, Lineker described the situation between him and the BBC after the tweet as a “lover’s tiff” and mentioned “we’re advantageous once more now.”
At £1.35M ($1.8M) per yr, Lineker is at present the BBC’s highest-paid presenter. His remaining Match of the Day will happen subsequent month because the UK soccer season wraps up.
