Soccer presenter Lineker leaving BBC after outcry over reposting of Zionism post with rat

Gary Lineker, a former England soccer player and now a media celebrity, will step down from his role as a presenter for the BBC after facing criticism for reposting an Instagram story criticizing Zionism that featured a picture of a rat.

The BBC says in a statement that Lineker will “leave his presenting role following the conclusion of Match of the Day for the 2024/25 season.”

The 64-year-old, who is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter at about 1.3 million pounds ($1.7 million) a year, was set to leave the flagship soccer highlights show at the end of this season but remain with the corporation to front other soccer coverage, including next year’s men’s World Cup.

However, he says now he will leave the BBC after the final “Match of the Day” next weekend in the wake of his decision to share the post. The post from the group Palestine Lobby was titled “Zionism explained in two minutes” and illustrated with a picture of a rat.

Rats, linked to disease and dirt, have been used to represent Jews in antisemitic propaganda throughout history, including by the Nazis in 1930s Germany.

In a statement, Linekar says he removed the post almost immediately and apologized.

“I recognize the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action,” he says. “I’ve stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life including of course anti-Semitism which I absolutely abhor. There’s no place for it and never should be.”