Gary Lineker has been blasted by a spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitisim, with the presenter set to leave the BBC following a scandal last week.
The 64-year-old shared a pro-Palestine video to his Instagram story that depicted people from Israel as rats. While he later apologised for his actions, pleading ignorance, it has ultimately triggered a fresh storm within the broadcaster.
Late on Sunday, The Sun said that Lineker had 'mutually agreed' to leave the BBC one year ahead of schedule - having originally been set to depart after the World Cup in 2026.
Now, a spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism has condemned Lineker - describing him as an 'egotist' and a 'symbol of the rot' within the BBC.
Gary Lineker has been blasted by a spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitisim, with the presenter set to leave the BBC following a scandal last week
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“Gary Lineker’s departure from the BBC was long overdue — this latest incident comes after years of us pointing out his descent," they said.
"He became a symbol of the rot at the heart of our national broadcaster: a man repeatedly allowed to flout the BBC’s own rules on impartiality, abusing his position to promote his increasingly propagandist politics, vilifying those he disagrees with, and even promoting dehumanising and extreme messages.
“The BBC tolerated this for years despite our growing calls and in spite of its supposed values, because it no longer lives by them.
"Impartiality at the BBC is dead, and Mr Lineker has been Exhibit A.
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“Gary Lineker could have been the Des Lynam of our generation.
"Instead, he transformed in front of the nation’s eyes into Mr Not So Nice Guy, an egotist who mistook celebrity for moral authority, a divisive figure who used his fame to inflame.
"At last the final whistle has been blown on his tenure at the BBC, and now it is time to ask how and why management allowed him to play on until now, foul after foul.”
Within the BBC, Lineker's stock has fallen.
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Gary Lineker recently deleted a controversial post about Israel on Instagram with that controversy ultimately one too manyINSTAGRAMIt seemed stronger than ever when he narrowly avoided the axe in 2023 after comparing the Conservative Government's stance on immigration to '30s Germany'.
Staff, including Match of the Day pundits, stood with Lineker in solidarity as he fought to keep his job.
He has, however, found himself the centre of several controversies in the time since - with last week's ultimately one too many.
Lineker's last BBC appearance will be on Sunday when the final episode of this season's Match of the Day airs.
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Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman have all been confirmed as his replacements.
Meanwhile, Lineker recently suggested he was in his prime as a presenter.
He said: “I think I’m a better presenter now than I’ve ever been.
“I know everything that can go wrong, and everything that can go right. Which is a good time to go.”
Gary Lineker will leave the BBC after Match of the Day airs on Sunday
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Lineker also revealed that he's been offered the chance to host cooking programmes. That possibility holds no appeal, however.
“I’d like to tell you I’m a very good cook. I’m pretty good,” he added.
“I’ve been doing it for ten years now, and I’m obsessive. So if I do something and I realise I’m reasonably good at it, I’ll throw my heart and soul at it.
“I’ve actually been offered to do cookery programmes, but I don’t want to, because whilst I’m a very keen cook and I think I’m a good cook, I’m not Gordon f***ing Ramsay."
