Gary Lineker's most controversial BBC moments as he quits 25-year career before World Cup

Gary Linker is no stranger to hitting the headlines with his on social media. In recent years, he has made a number of divisive comments - despite being employed by the since 1999 - airing his views on a whole host of issues, including asylum seekers, the Tories and most recently the .

The Match of the Day star, 64, who is the highest-paid presenter at the BBC, is set to announce he is to quit the broadcaster next week, after he apologised for sharing a video an anti-Zionism video. The post featured a picture of a rat, which has historically been used as an antisemitic insult, referring to language used in Nazi Germany to characterise Jews. Gary immediately deleted the post after realising the significance of the symbol, according to his agent. Last Tuesday afternoon, he also issued a statement in which he “apologised unreservedly” for his "mistake".

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But it's not the first time the former footballer has been in hot water with the BBC following his online activity. Here's a look at some of his most controversial moments...

Compares government's asylum seeker policy to Nazi Germany

Gary has often expressed his views on the country's border controls, compared the language by the former government's asylum seeker policy to 1930s Germany, describing the scheme as “immeasurably cruel”.

Taking to , now X in 2023, he posted: "There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries. This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I’m out of order?"

His views saw him dropped temporarily from Match of the Day, prompting colleagues, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright to boycott the show.

The BBC later introduced new social media rules banning flagship presenters from making attacks on political parties.

Breaches Beeb's impartiality guidelines after bashing Tories

In 2018, Gary was criticised for slamming the Conservative party on social media. It came after the dad-of-three tweeted: “Imagine how hopeless you’d have to be to still be behind the Tory party in the polls. The absolute state of our politics.”

In 2022, the BBC found Lineker had breached its impartiality guidelines over comments he had made in February asking then-foreign secretary if her party would “hand back their donations from Russian donors” after the invasion of .

Meanwhile, BBC presenter, Jonathan Agnew, told Lineker that as “the face of BBC Sport”, he should “observe BBC editorial guidelines”.

Slams World Cup hosts Qatar for homosexuality views and human rights record

Before the 2022 World Cup in , Gary slammed then-foreign secretary James Cleverly for suggesting LGBT+ football fans be “respectful of the host nation” – where homosexuality is illegal.

“Whatever you do, don’t do anything Gay. Is that the message?” Gary quipped on social media in response to the cabinet minister’s comments.

The Leicester-born star later opened the BBC’s broadcast coverage of the Qatar World Cup with a critique of the host country’s treatment of migrant workers and record on human rights.

Views on Israel

Gary had been due to leave the BBC after the 2026 World Cup but the long-standing host appears ready to bring an early end to his time with the broadcaster. The seasoned presenter on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

He reshared content from the group Palestine Lobby, prompting claims from Campaign Against Antisemitism that they would be lodging a complaint.

“Whilst I believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know how we do so matters," he said, adding: "I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views.”

Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, previously issued a response to the backlash. “The BBC’s reputation is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us," he said.

"And I think we absolutely need people to be the exemplars of BBC values and follow our social media policies, simple as that.”

Following the backlash, news that Gary would be leaving the BBC broke, with a source telling The : “Gary accepted his position at the BBC was untenable and he will not be hosting next year’s World Cup.

“He offered to step down at the end of the season and did not want the BBC – an organisation he still holds in the highest of esteem – dragged into any further controversy.

“He remains devastated by the recent turn of events and is deeply regretful about how his post was interpreted.

“His last Match of the Day will air on Sunday now and he won’t be back."

Promising the star will continue to air his views, controversial or otherwise, they continued: "Gary will continue to speak out about issues that he believes to be wrong.

“He will be able to comment freely without the shackles of the nonpartisan BBC and has already had a lot of TV offers to mull over. And, of course, he will be cheering on England like any other fan next summer.”

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