Overview

• In an interview with The New World, Lineker described his exit as a “quit or be quitted” decision imposed by BBC management.
• His departure stemmed from a May video about Gaza that included a rat emoji, which he promptly removed and apologized for.
• BBC director Tim Davie originally described their split as a mutual agreement after Lineker acknowledged his mistake.
• As a result, Lineker will not front BBC coverage of the FA Cup or the 2026 World Cup as previously planned.
• He has cut back on social media use and is dedicating his time to expanding his Goalhanger Podcasts ventures.