Gary Lineker has revealed he believed the BBC preferred him to step down from Match of the Day, despite his desire to continue.

Speaking to Amol Rajan, Lineker said, “Perhaps they want me to leave. There was the sense of that.”

The BBC did not comment on the claim but had called Lineker a “world-class presenter” when his departure was announced in November. While stepping back from the long-running football show, which he has hosted since 1999, Lineker will continue with FA Cup and World Cup coverage.

Lineker explained he had been negotiating a new contract and sensed the broadcaster wanted to refresh the programme as new rights periods approached. “I think it was their preference that I didn’t do Match of the Day for one more year, so they could bring in new people,” he said. In January, the BBC introduced new presenters: Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan.

He expressed satisfaction with his continued involvement in BBC football podcasts and other coverage, calling the arrangement “a scenario that suits me perfectly.”

Lineker also addressed his controversial tweets from March 2023, criticising the UK government’s immigration policy. His suspension sparked a major backlash and a presenter walkout in solidarity. Though he stood by his comments, Lineker admitted he wouldn’t repeat them due to the "damage" caused to the BBC.

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The row led the BBC to review its social media guidelines, now requiring impartiality from high-profile presenters. Lineker criticised the revised rules, saying they unfairly shifted expectations for those outside news and current affairs.

Lineker also backed calls to reinstate the pulled documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone on BBC iPlayer. The programme was removed in February after concerns were raised about the narrator’s connection to Hamas. Lineker said the BBC had “capitulated to lobbying” and insisted viewers should be trusted to make their own judgements.

The BBC has acknowledged “significant and damaging” flaws in the documentary’s production and is continuing its investigation.

Source: With inputs from BBC