Gary Lineker‘s popular The Rest is Football podcast has been dropped by BBC Sounds after the presenter was forced to leave the Corporation amid an antisemitism row.
The 64-year-old confirmed his departure from the BBC on Tuesday and ‘apologised unreservedly’ for sharing a social media post about Zionism with a rat emoji – a derogatory term used by Nazi Germany about Jewish people.
Mr Lineker will no longer front the BBC’s World Cup 2026 coverage in America, Mexico and Canada – while he will bring the curtain down on 26 years of hosting Match of the Day on Sunday, the final day of the Premier League season.
The decision to allow him to have a final MOTD swansong – despite being axed over antisemitism – has sparked widespread fury from the Jewish community.
Danny Cohen, the BBC’s former director of TV, called for Lineker to be denied the chance to say farewell under the circumstances, saying: ‘For far too long the BBC has failed to put a stop to Jew-hate and blatant breaches of impartiality on its services.’
The former England striker has repeatedly apologised, insisting he did not see the rat image and ‘would never consciously repost anything antisemitic’.
He added: ‘However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.’
But in another bitter blow to Mr Lineker, his Rest is Football podcast will now also be axed from BBC Sounds – as the Corporation looks to fully cut ties with their highest-paid presenter.
MailOnline understands the Rest is Football will have its last episode on BBC Sounds this week.
Gary Lineker quit the BBC on Tuesday after being caught up in claims of anti-Semitism on social media. He posted a video on Instagram apologising
Lineker shared a now-deleted reel on Instagram which originated with pro-Palestine group Palestine Lobby
Lineker’s The Rest is Football podcast, which he hosts with MOTD colleagues, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, is part of his Goalhanger company
Mr Lineker’s The Rest is Football podcast, which he hosts with MOTD colleagues, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards, is part of his Goalhanger company.
The original Goalhanger contract, announced last November, was for a ‘one-year deal with the opportunity to extend, with episodes remaining available on BBC Sounds for three years’.
Mr Lineker’s other Goalhanger podcasts, including The Rest is Politics, presented by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, and The Rest is Entertainment, fronted by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, will also be taken off BBC Sounds.
The Rest is History, hosted by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook, is the only Goalhanger podcast that will now appear on the BBC streaming service.
It comes after it was revealed in March how Lineker’s Goalhangers empire had recorded a staggering £1.4million profit last year.
Assets jumped over the last 12 months with accounts filed at Companies House showing its retained earnings rose from £590,000 in 2023 to £2.03m last year – a £1.4m rise. Cash in the bank also rose from £560,000 to £2.7m.
Mr Lineker will present his final Match of the Day on Sunday after 26 years and will not front BBC coverage of the 2026 World Cup, or coverage of the FA Cup next season.
He will leave without a payoff from his £1.4million-a-year salary, MailOnline understands.
Mr Cohen, former controller of BBC Three, BBC One and then Director of BBC Television until 2015, told The Telegraph: ‘The BBC have made the right decision to part ways with Gary Lineker, but he should not be allowed a final swansong this weekend.
‘And why the BBC’s statement does not even mention anti-Semitism is hard to understand.
Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker smiles outside his home in London after his exit from the BBC was confirmed on Tuesday
Lineker trotted from his front door to his car around an hour after his statement was released on Tuesday
‘Given the Nazi echoes of the content shared it will be very hard for many in the Jewish community to see Mr Lineker present Match of the Day again on Sunday.
‘If the racist content had been directed at another community I do not believe a presenter would be allowed to carry on for another week’.
He said: ‘Mr Lineker’s sharing of the post is a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. The BBC has a serious and wide-ranging problem with anti-Semitism. Only much stronger executive leadership can change that.’
Announcing his exit in a BBC statement, the former England footballer said: ‘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 recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.’
BBC director general Tim Davie also agreed it is the right decision having reportedly lost patience with the BBC’s top-paid presenter.
Lineker returned to TV screens for the first time on Saturday to host the FA Cup final after apologising for sharing an ‘anti-Semitic’ social media post
Footballer turned presenter Gary Lineker on Match of the Day in 1999 – his first season in the role he held for 25 campaigns
‘Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season’, he said.
Minutes after the announcement from the BBC, Mr Lineker published his own Instagram video, apologising again and said it was the ‘right time’ for him and the BBC to go their ‘separate ways’.
He said it has been ‘a pleasure and a huge privilege’ following the announcement that he will leave the BBC after this weekend’s Match Of The Day.
‘I would like once again to say I’m sorry, unreservedly, for the hurt and upset caused, it was a genuine mistake and oversight, but I should have been more diligent, I know that. I’ve stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor. There’s no place for it and never should be’, he said.
‘So I think it’s best for all concerned that I step down from BBC presenting duties altogether and not do next season to FA Cup or World Cup, the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday will be my last show. It’s been a pleasure and a huge privilege working with the BBC for 30 years, especially hosting Match Of The Day, a programme that is so close to my heart and an integral part of my life.
‘I’d like to thank all of the quite brilliant, talented and lovely people, both in front and behind the camera that I’ve worked alongside for three decades. You’re the absolute best. The relationship with the BBC has been long and wonderful, but it’s the right time for the organisation and myself to go our separate ways.
‘Thank you also to all of you (fans) for your incredible support and love over so many years. It means the world to me. I’ll see you all on Sunday’.
Shearer, his co-star on The Rest Is Football, was among those leaving messages alongside the Instagram video.
Writing in the comments, former Newcastle and England captain Shearer said: ‘Thank you for everything.’
