Gary Lineker to Leave Match of the Day

Gary Lineker will step down as the host of the BBC's Match of the Day at the end of the current season after a remarkable 25-year tenure, during which he first took the role in 1999. While he will no longer host the weekly highlights show, Lineker has signed an 18-month contract extension to continue presenting the FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup. BBC's Director of Sport, Alex Kay-Jelski, acknowledged Lineker's significant contributions and stated he would be 'hugely missed' on the show. Current frontrunners to replace him include Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates, as speculation builds around who will take over the iconic position. Lineker's departure comes amid reports of a strained relationship with Kay-Jelski, who is keen on making changes within the BBC's sports programming. Additionally, Lineker has faced controversies, including a brief suspension in 2023 due to a tweet regarding the UK Government's asylum policy, which raised questions about the BBC's impartiality guidelines.