Gary Lineker is reportedly set to leave the BBC early and not present the World Cup after his Zionism Instagram post was at the centre of an antisemitism backlash. The Match Of The Day star, 64, ‘unreservedly apologised’ last week after sharing a post containing antisemitic imagery.

Gary Lineker has "apologised unreservedly" after being criticised for sharing a social media post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat. "On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references," he said in a statement. "I very much regret these references.

Lineker, a former footballer who is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter and was slated to lead its World Cup coverage in 2026, shared a video last week about Zionism featuring an illustration of a rat, historically a common antisemitic trope, sparking a storm of criticism.