Gary Lineker signs new media deal ahead of the Club World Cup just weeks after former Match of the Day host's BBC exit
Gary Lineker has a struck a deal with a new broadcaster for the Club World Cup on the heels of leaving his role as Match of the Day host with the BBC last month.
The England legend had worked on the broadcaster's flagship football programme for 26 years, but called time on his tenure at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Lineker was initially earmarked to continue working with the BBC through to the 2026 World Cup, and had plans to front the organisation's coverage in one year's time, but announced with just days to go before his final programme that he would be stepping back for good after becoming embroiled in a controversial row over antisemitism.
The pundit had shared a social media post about Zionism which included a rat emoji -a visual slur which has links to Nazism's comparisons between Jewish people and vermin.
Lineker announced in his apology message that leaving the BBC for good was the 'responsible course of action', adding that he '(recognised) the error and upset that (he) had caused'.
The former Tottenham star also strenuously denied that he would ever 'consciously repost anything antisemitic'.
But just two weeks after the end of the season, Lineker has signed a new contract as part of his Goalhanger Podcasts media conglomerate.
As per a statement shared on Tuesday, Lineker has inked a deal for his The Rest is Football podcast to work closely with the tournament's broadcaster DAZN.
The podcast will feature 'licensed match footage within the show', with Lineker and co-hosts Micah Richards and Alan Shearer proving pre-match previews and other tailored content.
Pete Oliver, chief executive of growth markets at DAZN lauded the podcast as part of the announcement, stating that it was 'essential viewing and listening for fans who want insight, entertainment and personality.'
The deal, he added, is 'about connecting global football with the voices fans trust and love, and showing the tournament in a fresh, exciting, and authentically British way.'
Tony Pastor, Lineker's co-founder added: 'Partnering with DAZN to bring official match clips into the mix is the natural next step - adding energy, context, and taking the conversation to the next level.
'With over six million episode views and listens each month, and huge engagement across social, it's already the UK's most popular sports podcast.'
Lineker's latest news will come as a boost after it was revealed that one of the projects he had planned as part of his BBC farewell was abruptly cancelled.
Lineker was believed to be primed for a sit-down with Salah, but the interview was reportedly cancelled without warning amid fears that he would discuss the ongoing conflict in the Middle East with the Premier League title-winner.
A source shared that the interview as set to be shared across his final weekend, but the threat that Gaza might have 'come up naturally in conversation' saw it cancelled 'out of nowhere'.
The BBC were contacted for comment by Mail Sport and shared the following statement: 'The interview was cancelled because it planned to air after Gary's last Match of the Day.
'It would be wrong to suggest anything else.'
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