Gary Lineker has sent shockwaves around the country by sensationally quitting the BBC for good.
The 64-year-old, who is due to leave Match of the Day after Sunday's episode, has decided to walk away after an anti-Semitism row earlier this week.
Lineker shared a video from a pro-Palestine account on his Instagram story that featured an illustration of a rat referring to people from Israel. He offered an apology for his actions but, now, has decided to walk away from the broadcaster one year early.
According to The Sun, the former England, Leicester and Tottenham star is 'devastated' at having to quit 12 months ahead of schedule.
Gary Lineker has sent shockwaves around the country by sensationally quitting the BBC for good
PA
He had originally been expected to present the BBC's coverage of the FA Cup next year, as well as the 2026 World Cup.
That won't be happening now, however, with Lineker set to officially address his exit on Monday.
His final appearance came on Saturday as Crystal Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 to win the FA Cup at Wembley.
Eberechi Eze netted the only goal of the game for the Eagles, with Dean Henderson saving a penalty from Omar Marmoush as Oliver Glasner's team won their first-ever trophy.
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Lineker has been host of Match of the Day ever since 1999. Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan have already been confirmed as his replacements.
His outspoken nature has caused controversy over the past few years, with the ex-footballer becoming increasingly vocal with his views.
In 2023, he sparked a huge backlash by comparing the Conservative Government's immigration policy to like something from '30s Germany'.
He was stood down on MOTD but later reinstated after many figures within the company jumped to his defence.
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Gary Lineker recently deleted a controversial post about Israel on InstagramINSTAGRAMJust days before the FA Cup final, Lineker criticised BBC chief Alex Kay-Jelski.
Kay-Jelski has been keen to revamp Match of the Day in order to attract new viewers to the programme and is believed to have been unhappy with the presenter's reckless nature on social media.
Lineker fired a dig at the head of BBC Sport by saying: "He has his reasons, he wants to change Match of the Day a bit.
"Ultimately, I don’t think they will, because I don’t see how you move a highlights show away from being about highlights."
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When quizzed further on the changes that Kay-Jelski wants to make, he continued: "I think he wants more journalists - he has come from that background."
And Lineker also insisted he would stay away from politics, despite his outspoken past.
"I won’t get involved in politics, I never really have," he vowed.
Gary Lineker won't be working with the BBC on the 2026 World Cup or next season's FA Cup
PA
"Apart from the Brexit vote, because I did a lot of research on that and decided, ‘This could be worse than we think’.
"I never back a government. I might criticise Sir Keir Starmer on Israel.
"But nobody knows my politics."
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