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Gary Lineker, the renowned former England soccer player and prominent media personality, is set to leave his role as a presenter for the BBC. This decision comes after he faced backlash for reposting an Instagram story linked to Zionism that featured a picture of a rat. Lineker, 64, who is the BBC's highest-paid presenter earning around 1.3 million pounds annually, was initially planning to step down from the flagship soccer highlights show "Match of the Day" at the end of the season but continue with other soccer broadcasting duties, including the next year's men's World Cup.

However, the BBC announced that Lineker will fully step down from the corporation following the final episode of "Match of the Day" next weekend. This abrupt departure resulted from his decision to share a post by the group Palestine Lobby, which included an image of a rat titled: "Zionism explained in two minutes." BBC director-general Tim Davie stated that Lineker has recognized his mistake, leading to the agreement for him to cease further presenting roles after this season.

Lineker had apologized for his actions, asserting that he withdrew the offensive post as soon as he became aware of its problematic content. He emphasized that he would never knowingly endorse anything antisemitic and highlighted his commitment to standing up against all forms of racism. In a statement, he expressed deep regret for the error and acknowledged the hurt caused, asserting that stepping back was the responsible decision.

Adding to his apology, Lineker released a video on Instagram describing the reposting of the material as a "genuine mistake" and admitting that he should have exercised more diligence. He reiterated his lifelong stance against all forms of racism, including antisemitism, and expressed his abhorrence for such offensive content.

Lineker's tendency to express political opinions on social media has previously created tensions concerning the BBC's impartiality guidelines. Notably, he was temporarily suspended in March 2023 for criticizing the government's asylum policy, prompting the BBC to revise its social media rules to emphasize impartiality for high-profile presenters.

Further compounding his controversial output, Lineker signed an open letter in February urging the BBC to reinstate the documentary "Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone" on its BBC iPlayer. The documentary had been pulled after it was revealed that the narrator was the son of a Hamas official. Additionally, Lineker recently criticized Israel's actions in the Gaza conflict during an interview with The Daily Telegraph, stating that silence on the issue was tantamount to complicity.

Despite these controversies, Lineker remains a beloved figure in British sports, both for his exceptional soccer career and his successful transition into a prominent TV personality. Known for his engaging and informed commentary, Lineker has amassed millions of followers on social media platforms. Although his affiliation with the BBC is ending, his influence in the world of sports media is likely to persist through other ventures, including his popular "Goalhanger" podcasts.