Gary Lineker’s expected exit from the BBC is a seismic moment for the corporation and its management of top talent.
Colleagues had repeatedly asked why the BBC’s highest-paid presenter was repeatedly able to ride roughshod over the corporation’s impartiality rules, with apparent impunity.
After losing a battle of wills – when Lineker was briefly taken off air over criticism of the Tory government’s immigration policy then reinstated – in 2023, BBC boss Tim Davie gave the star greater “freedom of expression”, under revised social media rules.
Yet instead of having care for the BBC’s wider reputation, Lineker moved on from making often pointed asides on Brexit to sharing highly partisan posts criticising Israel, an obviously inflammatory topic.
The latest post was considered to be an antisemitic slur and prompted outrage from BBC staffers, who called on bosses to take action. It could not be swept aside as previous complaints had been.
It followed the publication of a review of the BBC’s workplace culture which found that “untouchable” star names had been allowed to get away with shocking behaviour because managers turned a blind eye.
Davie has promised staff “a culture that is kind, inclusive, safe and supportive, without exception”.
Presenters must recognise the “crucial role they play as ambassadors for the BBC”.
“The Code of Conduct is there for every one of us. No one is indispensable, in any role, however good they are at their jobs,” he added.
The Match of the Day presenter team in 2007. Left to right: Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker, Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson (Photo: BBC)When Davie told a media conference that Lineker’s latest mistake had damaged the BBC’s reputation and said all staff must abide by the rules, the writing was on the wall.
A series of recent interviews in which Lineker objected to the BBC’s decision to withdraw a Gaza documentary which had Hamas links, called Israel’s actions in Gaza “depraved” and said the BBC’s Director of Sport had “no TV experience” suggested a figure who either felt impregnable or was determined to go down in flames.
Lineker has always maintained that his political posts are within the BBC’s rules.
But he failed to convince BBC Chairman Samir Shah, who told MPs when he was appointed that he believed Lineker’s tweets mocking Conservative politicians appeared to break the guidelines.
In remarks foreshadowing Lineker’s expected exit, Shah said the “psychodrama” surrounding the presenter needed to come to an end. “It doesn’t help anyone and it does damage to the reputation of BBC,” he said.
Contract ripped up
Running out of allies at the top of the BBC, an apology over the rat emoji could not save Lineker’s position, which was now untenable.
A year-long extension taking Lineker through to next summer’s World Cup, awarded after stepping down from his Match of the Day role after 26 years, is being ripped up, The i Paper understands.
The BBC likely concluded that it could not face the risk of another year of Lineker sharing what, to some, appears increasingly extreme material about the Israel-Gaza conflict to his millions of followers, and the rows which would follow.
It is thought that both parties agreed in discussions last week that Lineker should continue to present Saturday’s FA Cup final and be allowed to bow out by fronting the final Match of the Day next weekend. He is not expected to return for the World Cup next year.
By parting company, Davie is finally sending a signal that the wider reputation of the BBC, facing a Government review of the licence fee, is more important than one individual.
But Davie will also face a backlash from viewers asking why the political opinions of perhaps the UK’s most popular football presenter should cause him to lose his job.
The “rat” error is of a different calibre to the previous row over immigration. On that occasion, Lineker stood by his tweets and fellow pundits walked out in sympathy over his suspension.
What is likely to be a mutual departure agreement should ensure that solidarity is not repeated over a self-inflicted wound by Lineker who acknowledged he should not have endorsed the post.
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