Gary Lineker speaks openly for the first time about his farewell to “Match of the Day”. The BBC presenter raises doubts about the official version.
In an interview with the BBC, Gary Lineker commented on his upcoming farewell to the BBC show “Match of the Day”. The 64-year-old made it clear that the broadcaster apparently actively forced his farewell.
“I felt that the BBC wanted me to go,” the 63 -year -old told BBC journalist Amol Rajan. He hoped for an extension of his contract – the decision to stop after more than two decades as a moderator of the traditional show was not voluntary.
Gary Lineker speaks about his farewell to “Match of the Day”
In November it sounded different
Lineker’s withdrawal was officially made in November 2024. At that time, the former football professional spoke of a “right time” for a change and of wanting to make room for the next generation. Today the situation is different: The initiative seems to have assumed the BBC .
Despite his resignation, Lineker is preserved to the broadcaster. He will continue to be available for reporting on the 2026 World Cup and the FA Cup. His podcasts “The Rest is Football” and “Motd Top Ten” are also broadcast as usual via BBC Sounds .
Suspension reason for?
In a statement, the BBC Lineker praised at the time as a “world-class moderator” and paid tribute to his role for almost 25 years on the show-however, the broadcaster did not respond. From the 2025/26 season, Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will take over the moderation.
Lineker was the best -paid moderator of the BBC from 2017 to 2024 and had spoken politically several times during this time – among other things to British asylum policy, which led to a temporary suspension in 2023.
It remains to be seen whether this incident influence the latest decisions. With the end of his time at “Match of the Day”, an era on British sports television comes to an end – but not Lineker’s presence on the screens.