Overview

• Lineker ended a 26-year stint as 'Match of the Day' host with a tearful final show featuring a seven-minute tribute montage.
• He resigned after posting a pro-Palestinian video with a rat emoji on Instagram, apologising for not recognising its antisemitic implications.
• His departure forgoes planned future duties on FA Cup and 2026 World Cup broadcasts and carries no severance payout.
• Football figures including Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Pep Guardiola and Virgil van Dijk celebrated his influence on sports journalism during his farewell.
• The BBC reiterated that its on-screen talent must uphold a responsible role-model standard on social media platforms.