Gary Lineker is to leave the BBC after this season’s final Match of the Day and will no longer present its coverage of the World Cup next year, Sky News understands.
It comes after he “apologised unreservedly” for a social media re-post featuring a rat, saying he would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic”.
Lineker’s last appearance on the BBC will be on 25 May, the final day of the season, with confirmation expected on Monday.
The former England star had already announced he was stepping down from Match of the Day, but was set to return to front the World Cup in 2026 and FA Cup coverage.
Lineker, 64, said he was unaware the post he shared was antisemitic and that it went against “everything I believe in”.
The presenter was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then Conservative government’s asylum policy.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
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