[ad_1]
Gary Lineker, who’s quickly to hold up his Match of the Day boots after 25 years, has mentioned he felt the BBC wished him to depart the weekly highlights present.
Lineker, who has had a chequered relationship with the nationwide broadcaster over the previous couple of years, informed BBC presenter Amol Rajan “perhaps they wanted me to leave… there was a sense of that” when discussing his exit.
He was responding to a query from Rajan for an Amol Rajan Interviews episode on why he’s selecting to depart now when the present is doing so nicely. “Perhaps they wanted me to leave,” was Lineker’s response.
Lineker, who’s being changed by three hosts subsequent season, is remaining with the BBC to current FA Cup and World Cup protection together with podcasts and he mentioned that whereas this transfer is “slightly unusual… to be honest it’s a scenario that suits me perfectly.”
The BBC didn’t touch upon at the moment’s Lineker remarks however pointed Deadline to the assertion made on the time he introduced his exit, which was billed as “Gary Lineker agrees a contract extension with the BBC.” At that point in November 2024, BBC sport boss Alex Kay-Jelski known as Lineker a “world-class presenter, and we’re delighted that he’ll lead our coverage of the next World Cup and continue to lead our live coverage of the FA Cup.”
Lineker’s newest feedback, which are actually out there to observe on BBC iPlayer, might reopen wounds.
The ex-soccer professional kickstarted an unprecedented BBC presenter strike when he was stood down from Match of the Day internet hosting duties two years in the past after posting a tweet evaluating UK authorities coverage on small boats to that of Nazi Germany.
Lineker returned the next week however sparked a complete overview into BBC presenters’ use of social media and Lineker’s social media use has since raised questions. Last 12 months, Lineker described the scenario between him and the BBC after the tweet as a “lover’s tiff” and mentioned “we are fine again now.”
At £1.35M ($1.8M) per 12 months, Lineker is at the moment the BBC’s highest-paid presenter. His closing Match of the Day will happen subsequent month because the UK soccer season wraps up.