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Gary Lineker email sent to all BBC staff emerges after Match of the Day exit confirmed

Home> Football> Football News

Updated 13:23 19 May 2025 GMT+1Published 12:59 19 May 2025 GMT+1

Gary Lineker email sent to all BBC staff emerges after Match of the Day exit confirmed

Former England and Spurs legend Gary Lineker will leave the BBC on Sunday after 26 years.

Ben McCrum

Ben McCrum

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Gary Lineker, Match Of The Day, Football

Ben McCrum
Ben McCrum

Ben is a sports journalist who specialises in football and MMA. He has written for publications such as Manchester Evening News, WiganToday, Manchester World and beIN Sports. Throughout his career he has interviewed top athletes in MMA including Tom Aspinall and Michael Bisping.

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@benmcc14

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Details of an email sent to all BBC staff regarding Gary Lineker's early departure have been revealed.

In November, the BBC confirmed that beloved Match of the Day host Lineker would be stepping down at the end of the season, following over two decades of leading the show.

Presenters Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan were later announced as Lineker's replacements for the flagship football show, while Lineker would remain on duty for the BBC's coverage of the FA Cup and 2026 World Cup.

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However, after the former Spurs and Barcelona star accidentally reposted a offensive video including an anti-semitic emoji, he confirmed that he would no longer be working for the BBC in any capacity, with Sunday's MOTD Premier League finale being his last show.

And now, details of an important email sent to all BBC staff by director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski regarding Lineker's upcoming exit have emerged online.


Gary Lineker has announced that he is leaving the BBC after 26 years. (Image: Getty)
Gary Lineker has announced that he is leaving the BBC after 26 years. (Image: Getty)

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In an internal email thanking Lineker for all of his work with the BBC, Kay-Jelski admitted that the fallout of Lineker's social media post has been a difficult and emotional time.

It read: "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."

In his own statement addressing the incident, Lineker took full responsibility for the mistake and apologised for any offence and upset caused, reiterating that it was not at all what he intended and that antisemitism goes against everything he stands for.

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The controversial incident comes after the 64-year-old has been outspoken about the ongoing Gaza–Israel conflict.

  • Gary Lineker agrees deal with new broadcaster just a week after quitting BBC
  • Gary Lineker breaks silence on Match of the Day exit as shock name emerges in race to replace him
  • Gary Lineker breaks silence on his Match of the Day future live on BBC amid 'exit' rumours
  • BBC issue statement as Gary Lineker's Match of the Day future in fresh doubt after 'leaked email'

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