The controversy has led to BBC’s highest-paid presenter, Gary Lineker, temporarily stepping down from his position. He was attacked for simply reposting a single Instagram story explaining what Zionism is. The 64-year-old former footballer and long-time host of “Match of the Day” has been involved in controversy surrounding his social media activity, particularly with regard to the BBC’s impartiality guidelines.
Lineker’s decision comes amid his ongoing commitment to other football coverage, including the upcoming men’s World Cup. He had planned to leave “Match of the Day” at the end of this season while continuing to work with the BBC. This latest negative response to his social media post has caused him to reconsider his approach.
In February, Lineker joined over 500 high-profile figures in signing an open letter urging the BBC to re-broadcast the documentary “Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone.” The documentary came under fire when it was discovered that its 13-year-old narrator is the son of a Hamas leader. This raised deep alarms about that film’s editorial integrity.
Lineker’s social media engagement has sparked tension with the BBC, particularly after he faced a temporary suspension in March 2023 for comments criticizing the then-Conservative government’s asylum policy. His willingness to engage on political matters has more recently run afoul of the CBC’s requirement for its commentator/journalists to be non-partisan.
Last week, Lineker admitted to sharing content that included “offensive references” and apologized for any offense taken.
“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 recognize the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.” – Gary Lineker
His statement was a reminder of his lifelong dedication to fighting all types of discrimination, including antisemitism.
“I have stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and all forms of racism all of my life, including of course antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor,” – Gary Lineker
Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general, addressed the crisis. He suggested a greater enforcement of the broadcaster’s standards and guidance on use of social media.
“When someone makes a mistake, it costs us,” – Tim Davie
Davie noted that Lineker has already acknowledged that his actions were wrong. He is just as aware of the need to step away from his presentation responsibilities.
“Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season,” – Tim Davie
As such, Lineker came to the role of presenter for the TV show “Match of the Day” in 1999. While there, he emerged as a powerful sports broadcasting figure. He was a freelance producer for a number of networks such as NBC and Al Jazeera. Despite his forthcoming departure from his presenting role at the BBC, he is expected to remain involved in football coverage.
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