Gary Lineker “wants to be sacked”, former BBC presenter Danny Kelly has claimed after the presenter made another controversial social media post.
The broadcaster’s highest-paid star has ‘apologised unreservedly’ for sharing a social media post about Zionism that included a rat illustration.
"On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references," he said in a statement. "I very much regret these references.
“I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.”
Danny Kelly furiously hit out at the BBC star
GB NEWS / PA
Speaking on GB News, Kelly said the apology was “hollow” and accused the Match of the Day star of trying to intentionally get himself sacked.
“It’s a hollow apology. I think they are crocodile tears. I remember Lineker saying he would never post anything after a glass of wine. He is so careful about what he posts”, he said.
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“I don’t buy for one second that he wasn’t aware of the significance of that rat. Bearing in mind only 16 months ago he was criticising Suella Braverman for using 1930s Nazi rhetoric about people coming over on dinghies.
“Now here he is, using 1930s Nazi rhetoric. He only has a matter of games on Match of the Day left. The BBC didn’t renew his contract. I said a year ago hell would freeze over before the BBC renewed his contract - I was proven right.
“I think he wants to fall on his sword. I think he is pushing the BBC to sack him. I think the activism has got to his head.
“He realises he’s no longer a BBC employee and I don’t think he likes rejection. The BBC has rejected him and I am torn. I think he wants to be fired.
Danny Kelly joined Martin Daubney on GB News
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“But I don’t want him to succeed.”
Asked by Martin Daubney why Lineker would want the BBC to fire him, Kelly said: “He’s an activist and he has put his political views before his BBC position.
“He can say, ‘I’ve fallen on my sword’. He’s given an interview where he said he was sacked. He was backed into a corner.
“I don’t know what goes on in his head. He is hardwired very different to me and you but I think the BBC should fire him.
Gary Lineker is set to leave Match of the Day, but Kelly thinks he wants to be pushed before his contract's expiry
PA“If I conflated Islam with a pig’s head, my feet would not have touched the ground. What’s the difference?”
BBC Director General Tim Davie addressed the controversy during a speech at The Lowry arts centre in Salford.
Davie said: "The BBC's reputation is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us."
"I think we absolutely need people to be the exemplars of BBC values and follow our social media policies, simple as that."
This is not the first time Lineker has been involved in controversy related to BBC impartiality rules.
He was temporarily suspended from the broadcaster in March 2023 after criticising the then-government's asylum policy.
Lineker was also among 500 high-profile figures who signed an open letter in February urging the BBC to re-broadcast a Gaza documentary.
Last November, he announced he would be stepping down from presenting Match Of The Day, though he will continue to host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.
Lineker is the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, which produces the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs.
The podcasts cover a range of topics including politics, football, entertainment and money.
The TV presenter has maintained a strong presence across both traditional and social media platforms throughout his broadcasting career.
