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Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
BBC accused of giving Gary Lineker ‘hero's farewell' with Match of the Day swansong
The BBC has been accused of giving Gary Lineker a 'hero's farewell' by allowing him a Match of the Day 'swansong' on Sunday. Lineker's departure has been confirmed after mounting pressure within the corporation and beyond over an 'anti-Semitic' social media post last week. However, corporation chiefs have allowed the former England football captain to host this Sunday's coverage of the last matches of the Premier League season. Campaigners and BBC insiders are now questioning why he was not dismissed with immediate effect given the levels of offence caused by the now-deleted Instagram post showing an anti-Semitic rat emoji. Among television executives to express fresh concern are Leo Pearlman, chief executive at Fulwell Entertainment, and Danny Cohen, former director of BBC Television. 'The BBC's decision to allow Lineker a final appearance on Match of the Day, effectively offering him a hero's farewell, despite the fact that he is leaving the corporation because of his use of an anti-Semitic trope comparing Jews to vermin, is deeply disturbing,' Pearlman told Telegraph Sport. 'At a time when anti-Semitism in Britain is rising at an alarming rate, the BBC's choice to honour Lineker in this way sends an appalling message to the Jewish community.' Cohen added: 'The BBC has made the right decision to part ways with Gary Lineker, but he should not be allowed a final swansong this weekend. And why the BBC's statement does not even mention anti-Semitism is hard to understand. Given the Nazi echoes of the content shared it will be very hard for many in the Jewish community to see Mr Lineker present Match of the Day again on Sunday. 'If the racist content had been directed at another community, I do not believe a presenter would be allowed to carry on for another week. The BBC has a serious and wide-ranging problem with anti-Semitism. Only much stronger executive leadership can change that.' Jane Lush, the former controller of BBC Entertainment and Comedy, added: 'No person, however popular, is bigger or more important than the BBC. I say this as the person who personally fired Angus Deayton from Have I Got News For You. When many predicted it would see the demise of the programme, 23 years later the show is going as strongly as ever. The lesson the BBC should learn is that it cannot allow anyone – however well known or influential – to damage its reputation in this way again.' Lineker will lose out on an estimated £800,000 after being forced to leave without a pay-off. Sources close to the corporation say the decision to drop him was made primarily by BBC chiefs who had run out of patience with his outspoken political views. The latest controversy was set in motion on Monday last week when the Match of the Day presenter used Instagram to promote a pro-Palestinian video featuring a rat emoji – an icon used by the Nazis as a slur against Jewish people. Lineker apologised and removed the video but calls to remove him from the BBC grew louder on Thursday when Telegraph Sport published an explosive interview with Lineker in which he went further than ever in his comments about Israel and also criticised his boss at the BBC. It was confirmed at noon on Monday that this Sunday's Match of the Day will be Lineker's last BBC outing. An anonymous BBC member of staff said in response on Monday: 'It's not just about the rat, the video itself contained anti-Semitic tropes and yet it seems like BBC bosses have done the bare minimum of damage limitation. As a Jewish member of staff, that feels like a betrayal.'
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Fury that Gary Lineker will get 'final MOTD swansong' this Sunday despite being axed over anti-Semitism row
Gary Lineker should be denied his final Match of the Day 'swansong' by the BBC this weekend, the corporation's former director of TV demanded today. Danny Cohen, a media executive and prominent figure in London 's Jewish community, also accused the corporation of having a 'serious and wide-ranging problem with antisemitism'. 'For far too long the BBC has failed to put a stop to Jew-hate and blatant breaches of impartiality on its services ', he said. He spoke out after Lineker was axed by the BBC in shame over his antisemitic Instagram post about Zionism featuring a rat - a vile trope used by the Nazis to characterise Jews as vermin. The 64-year-old has apologised yet again and said his BBC exit is 'the responsible course of action' but insisted that he understands 'the error and upset that I caused'. He will present his final Match of the Day on Sunday after 26 years and will not front BBC coverage of the 2026 World Cup, or coverage of the FA Cup next season. He will leave without a payoff from his £1.4million-a-year salary, MailOnline understands. But Mr Cohen, former controller of BBC Three, BBC One and then Director of BBC Television until 2015, said: 'The BBC have made the right decision to part ways with Gary Lineker, but he should not be allowed a final swansong this weekend. 'And why the BBC's statement does not even mention anti-Semitism is hard to understand. Given the Nazi echoes of the content shared it will be very hard for many in the Jewish community to see Mr Lineker present Match of the Day again on Sunday. If the racist content had been directed at another community I do not believe a presenter would be allowed to carry on for another week'. He told the Telegraph: 'Mr Lineker's sharing of the post is a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. The BBC has a serious and wide-ranging problem with anti-Semitism. Only much stronger executive leadership can change that.' A senior insider told MailOnline today that the decision to go early was not Lineker's and he was ousted. His contract was torn up over the scandal and he leaves without a financial settlement, the source said. His departure also spells the end of the licensing deal for his Goalhanger podcasts, The Rest Is Football and The Rest Is History, which will leave BBC Sounds later this year. Announcing his exit in a BBC statement, the former England footballer said: 'Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio. 'I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years. As I've said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for. 'However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.' BBC director general Tim Davie also agreed it is the right decision having reportedly lost patience with the BBC's top-paid presenter. 'Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season', he said. Minutes after the announcement from the BBC, Mr Lineker published his own Instagram video, apologising again and said it was the 'right time' for him and the BBC to go their 'separate ways'. He said it has been 'a pleasure and a huge privilege' following the announcement that he will leave the BBC after this weekend's Match Of The Day. 'I would like once again to say I'm sorry, unreservedly, for the hurt and upset caused, it was a genuine mistake and oversight, but I should have been more diligent, I know that. I've stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor. There's no place for it and never should be', he said. 'So I think it's best for all concerned that I step down from BBC presenting duties altogether and not do next season to FA Cup or World Cup, the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday will be my last show. It's been a pleasure and a huge privilege working with the BBC for 30 years, especially hosting Match Of The Day, a programme that is so close to my heart and an integral part of my life. 'I'd like to thank all of the quite brilliant, talented and lovely people, both in front and behind the camera that I've worked alongside for three decades. You're the absolute best. The relationship with the BBC has been long and wonderful, but it's the right time for the organisation and myself to go our separate ways. 'Thank you also to all of you (fans) for your incredible support and love over so many years. It means the world to me. I'll see you all on Sunday'. Alan Shearer, who hosts The Rest Is Football podcast alongside Mr Lineker and Micah Richards, was among those leaving messages alongside the Instagram video. Writing in the comments, former Newcastle and England captain Shearer said: 'Thank you for everything.' Comedian and TV presenter John Bishop wrote: 'Gary you leave a great legacy as a player, as a presenter and as a man. Good luck with everything else you do next.' Lineker declined to answer questions as he left his south-west London home on Monday afternoon. Lineker ran from his front door to his car before driving away, refusing to answer questions from reporters on whether he regretted the manner in which his career at the BBC has come to an end. The BBC's Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski, who is in charge of revamping Match of the Day without Mr Lineker, emailed staff following today's announcement. He wrote: You will have seen in the past few minutes that Gary Lineker will be leaving the BBC at the end of the current football season. 'I appreciate the last week has been difficult and emotional for many of you. Thank you for all the messages and conversations, even if some of them weren't easy to have. And I hope you understand that I had to wait until now to tell you the news. 'It is sad to be saying goodbye to such a brilliant broadcaster and I also want to thank Gary for his years of service. As ever, if you have questions, you know where I am. 'Let's finish the season strongly with Gary's final show, enjoy an incredible summer of sport and look forward with excitement to what lies ahead'. It comes after Lineker was widely condemned for his now-deleted Instagram video story which featured a pro-Palestine video featuring an anti-Jewish rat slur. Following backlash from sections of the Jewish community, the Match of the Day presenter insisted he would 'never knowingly share anything anti-Semitic'. Lineker apologised unreservedly for the 'mistake' saying 'that image does not reflect my views'. However, BBC bosses were believed to have considered his position as untenable amid allegations of anti-Semitism. The image of rats and vermin are considered provocative since they were widely used as propaganda against Jews in 1930s Nazi Germany. The former England striker was already set to leave his role as presenter of Match of the Day at the end of the season, but will now no longer host the corporation's coverage of the FA Cup in 2025-26 and the World Cup in 2026. On Saturday afternoon, he took to TV screens across the country again to front coverage of Crystal Palace's 1-0 FA Cup final win over Manchester City. Lineker is listed by the BBC as their highest-paid presenter, receiving £1.4million from the BBC last year. He shared the controversial post, originally uploaded by another account, as it featured a critique of Zionism - the belief that there should be a national homeland for Jewish people in Israel. The BBC stalwart has previously been vocal with his views on the Israeli invasion of Gaza following the October 7 attacks - among other issues - but is not thought to have ever publicly apologised for content he has shared. Mr Lineker refused to say sorry in 2023 for comparing the then Tory government's rhetoric over its immigration policy to that of Nazi Germany. The remark triggered a BBC suspension but this was lifted when colleagues walked out in support of the presenter. Mrs Braverman said at the time she felt that Mr Lineker's comments were 'disappointing' when he compared her policies to Nazi Germany The BBC's social media rules were then rewritten to say presenters of flagship programmes outside news and current affairs - including Match of the Day - have 'a particular responsibility to respect the BBC's impartiality, because of their profile on the BBC'. Lineker, however, remained unrepentant about the series of incendiary tweets from 2023 that led to his suspension. In an interview published on BBC2 last month, he said: 'I don't regret saying them publicly, because I was right - what I said, it was accurate. 'Why shouldn't I have an opinion on things? I'm a b***dy footballer who's turned into a sports presenter'. In the same interview with the BBC's Amol Rajan, he was asked whether it was part of his remit to give a view on Middle East politics. Lineker said: 'I'm sorry. It's more important than the BBC. What's going on there [Gaza] is the mass murder of thousands of children - probably something that we should have a little opinion on.' But on Wednesday, after outrage at the rat image intensified, the former England captain said: 'On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references. 'I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything anti-Semitic. It goes against everything I believe in. 'The post was removed as soon as I became aware of the issue. The long-standing sports presenter was at the helm of Match of the Day for 25 seasons but was due to step down at the end of this season even prior to this latest controversy 'Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters. 'I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views. It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.' In an interview with The Telegraph this month, Mr Lineker described what is going on in Gaza as 'beyond depraved.' He said: 'We still seem to be on the side of the people who are doing this. We're still supplying arms. 'And you think, 'Wow, how?' The vast majority of people see it for what it is now.' On the subject of October 7 he said it was 'inevitable' the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land would 'cause massive problems'. The 64-year-old added fuel to the fire last week over an unrelated issue - as he appeared to take a swipe at the BBC's director of sport as of last year, Alex Kay-Jelski, saying he 'wants to change Match of the Day a bit'. He told Telegraph Sport: 'I think [a regime change] has [happened], and that's what I was alluding to [in an earlier interview]. 'He has his reasons, he wants to change Match of the Day a bit. Ultimately, I don't think they will, because I don't see how you move a highlights show away from being about highlights. 'I think he wants more journalists - he has come from that background. He has got no television experience.' One BBC staff member, who has since he proved right, claimed the combination of sharing the rat emoji and making the comments about Kay-Jelski could spell the end for Lineker at the BBC. They said: 'That is being seen as a real dig at the head of sport, which you just don't do. 'But for it to come so soon after the social media controversy makes it a real problem for him.' Earlier this year, Lineker implied that the BBC wanted him to move on from Match of the Day. He said: 'Well, perhaps they want me to leave. There was the sense of that.'
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Gary Lineker to quit BBC after anti-Semitism row
He will now announce that next Sunday's Match of the Day will be his last after 26 years fronting the show. '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,' The Sun 's source added. 'He remains absolutely devastated by the recent turn of events and is deeply regretful about how his post was interpreted.' Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television, has immediately welcomed Lineker's departure. 'Given the anti-Semitic nature of the content Mr Lineker shared it is right that he is leaving the BBC,' Cohen told The Telegraph. 'But Mr Lineker's sharing of the post is a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. For far too long the BBC has failed to put a stop to Jew-hate and blatant breaches of impartiality on its services. 'All of this has been causing great pain to Britain's Jewish community and consistently undermining the BBC's reputation. Weak leadership by BBC executives has allowed racism against Jews to fester in the organisation for too long. The time for truly effective change is now, starting with unequivocal zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form.' Lineker issued an unprecedented 'unreserved' apology for sharing the rat image, stressing he had done so unknowingly, but his contrition failed to quell mounting anger compounded by his comments to The Telegraph. The 64-year-old made no mention of the furore as he fronted coverage of the FA Cup final on Saturday, despite calls for him to be dropped for the game at Wembley. Lineker had been contracted to front the BBC's FA Cup coverage next season, as well as the World Cup. An early exit denies him the opportunity to bow out at next summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The seriousness of Lineker's 'anti-Semitic' rat post was reflected in his unprecedented apology on Wednesday, which was not enough to quell anger from BBC colleagues demanding he be sacked. Lineker had never previously shown contrition for expressing his views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. He also did not say sorry in 2023 for comparing the then Government's rhetoric over its immigration policy to that of Nazi Germany, despite it triggering a BBC suspension that was lifted when colleagues walked out in support of the presenter. The former England captain said in a statement on Wednesday: 'On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learnt contained offensive references. I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything anti-Semitic. It goes against everything I believe in. 'The post was removed as soon as I became aware of the issue. Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters. 'I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views. It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.' Lineker, who earned £1.35 million ($3.04m) in BBC pay last year, is lauded as an accomplished broadcaster, but has become an increasingly divisive figure among viewers. His denial that he spotted the cartoon rat, used by the Nazis as a slur against Jewish people, had failed to calm anger among critics. The image had accompanied a video in which Canadian-Palestinian lawyer Diana Buttu attacked Israel's war in Gaza.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gary Lineker to quit BBC after anti-Semitism row
Gary Lineker is set to quit the BBC on Monday over the anti-Semitism row that erupted after he shared a social-media post featuring a rat. The former England captain will leave the corporation early by mutual consent as plans for him to front next year's World Cup are axed. A source told The Sun newspaper that Lineker has acknowledged his position at the BBC has become 'untenable'. The Telegraph had reported on Friday how Lineker could leave early amid fury from campaigners and Jewish BBC colleagues over a now-deleted Instagram post from the campaign group Palestine Lobby. In an interview with The Telegraph, Lineker also branded Israel's response to the October 7 terrorist attacks as 'beyond depraved'. He will now announce that next Sunday's Match of the Day will be his last after 26 years fronting the show. '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,' The Sun's source added. 'He remains absolutely devastated by the recent turn of events and is deeply regretful about how his post was interpreted.' Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television, has immediately welcomed Lineker's departure. 'Given the anti-Semitic nature of the content Mr Lineker shared, it is right that he is leaving the BBC,' Cohen told The Telegraph. 'But Mr Lineker's sharing of the post is a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. For far too long the BBC has failed to put a stop to Jew-hate and blatant breaches of impartiality on its services. 'All of this has been causing great pain to Britain's Jewish community and consistently undermining the BBC's reputation. Weak leadership by BBC executives has allowed racism against Jews to fester in the organisation for too long. The time for truly effective change is now, starting with unequivocal zero tolerance for anti-Semitism in any form.' Lineker issued an unprecedented 'unreserved' apology for sharing the rat image, stressing he had done so unknowingly, but his contrition failed to quell mounting anger compounded by his comments to The Telegraph. The 64-year-old made no mention of the furore as he fronted coverage of the FA Cup final on Saturday, despite calls for him to be dropped for the game at Wembley. Lineker had been contracted to front the BBC's FA Cup coverage next season, as well as the World Cup. An early exit denies him the opportunity to bow out at next summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The seriousness of Lineker's 'anti-Semitic' rat post was reflected in his unprecedented apology on Wednesday, which was not enough to quell anger from BBC colleagues demanding he be sacked. Lineker had never previously shown contrition for expressing his views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. He also did not say sorry in 2023 for comparing the then government's rhetoric over its immigration policy to that of Nazi Germany, despite it triggering a BBC suspension that was lifted when colleagues walked out in support of the presenter. The former England captain said in a statement on Wednesday: 'On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learnt contained offensive references. I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything anti-Semitic. It goes against everything I believe in. 'The post was removed as soon as I became aware of the issue. Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters. 'I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views. It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.' Lineker, who earned £1.35 million in BBC pay last year, is lauded as an accomplished broadcaster, but has become an increasingly divisive figure among viewers. His denial that he spotted the cartoon rat, used by the Nazis as a slur against Jewish people, had failed to calm anger among critics. The image had accompanied a video in which Canadian-Palestinian lawyer Diana Buttu attacked Israel's war in Gaza. The source with understanding of Lineker's situation told The Sun of his departure: 'It is a heartbreaking end to an extraordinary broadcasting career.'
Telegraph
14-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
BBC to expand controversial Verify fact-checking unit
The BBC is to expand its Verify fact-checking unit despite several controversies and accusations of political bias. Tim Davie, the broadcaster's director-general, announced plans to 'build Verify across more services globally' and give it a greater role in local UK reporting as part of a mission to 'nurture trust'. The unit was launched by Deborah Turness, the chief executive of BBC News, in 2023. But it has since become one of the corporation's most contentious brands, accused of making factual errors and promoting flawed journalism. Danny Cohen, a former BBC director of television, has accused Verify of anti-Israel bias in its reporting on Gaza. He said the service was 'a major contributor to the damage being done to the BBC's reputation and its commitments to impartiality and accuracy'. It also emerged that Verify used a Labour Party activist to back its analysis of government figures on the farm tax. However, Mr Davie has thrown his weight behind the unit. He said it had an important part to play in the BBC being 'the world's most trusted news provider'. BBC 'hunting for fair funding model' The director-general announced the expansion of Verify in a speech to staff entitled 'A catalyst for building trust'. In the remarks, he reiterated his opposition to the BBC becoming a Netflix-style subscription service. Looking to the future of the licence fee, he said: 'Universal payment is not over.' However, he conceded that the system needed an overhaul. 'The current licence fee works and is delivering the content you see. I think it is a very good system but we are saying that, based on changes in audience behaviour and huge changes in the world, the system should be reformed and should be modernised,' he said. Mr Davie added: 'What we want is a way in which everyone pays for the BBC fairly, and that is what we're hunting for.' The broadcasting boss also said he would like to 'supercharge' the BBC World Service and more than double its audience to one billion people a week, but said the scale of the plan required 'a few hundred million more [pounds] than where we are today'. He also said the corporation was considering launching its own device so that older people who do not have smart televisions can access Freely – an existing online streaming service backed by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. Meanwhile, in a question and answer session after his speech, Mr Davie was asked by one of his reporters if Gary Lineker had broken guidelines earlier this week when he shared a video by Palestine Lobby, a campaign group, which featured an 'anti-Semitic' rat emoji. A terse Mr Davie replied: 'I'd just say the BBC's reputation is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake it costs us. 'We absolutely need people to be exemplars of BBC values and follow our social media policy, simple as that.' A spokesman for Lineker said the Match of the Day presenter had not noticed the emoji when he reposted the clip on Instagram, but had deleted it after learning of its symbolic meaning. The presenter said in a later statement: 'It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.'
