Gary Lineker has accused the BBC of losing its sense of direction in the long-running debate over impartiality. The former Match of the Day presenter departed the corporation last year, ending an association marked by a string of controversies in its final years over his political commentary, including a brief suspension in March 2023.
Exit accelerated after antisemitism allegations
The 65-year-old had been expected to remain at the BBC until 2026, seeing out his contract beyond this summer's World Cup. However, his exit was accelerated last year following antisemitism allegations after he shared an anti-Zionist meme featuring a rat, a symbol with a long and well-documented history as an antisemitic trope.
Throughout his time at the corporation, Lineker was a frequent and vocal commentator on political matters, among them Brexit. Though widely characterised as a figure of the Left, he has consistently maintained his own politics are broadly centrist.
Claims of partisanship at the top
In recent years, the former England striker faced mounting pressure to temper his outspoken opinions given his considerable public profile and influence, despite there being no legal requirement for BBC talent to remain impartial. A year on from his departure, the England great has suggested the BBC has itself grown increasingly partisan over time.
"For a lot of people, empathy goes as you get older, and you turn perhaps more to the far right," he told The Observer. "I've been the opposite."
Lineker has been notably outspoken in recent years about his position on the Palestinian humanitarian crisis and the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Since parting ways with the BBC, he feels freer to voice his opinions without facing criticism.
"I don't need to tread on eggshells all the time," he added. "I'm now entitled to an opinion. Generally, life's slightly more relaxed.
"I haven't missed the BBC. I've got lots of respect for it, but it's lost its way. They talk about impartiality, but at the top they're definitely partial. We need to look beyond political parties deciding who's on the board."
Political connections under scrutiny
Former BBC director general Tim Davie stood as a Conservative Party councillor for Hammersmith in the early 1990s. The broadcaster has faced scrutiny previously for appointing former Tory officials and donors, such as ex-chairperson Richard Sharp, to senior roles despite clear political connections.
Lineker remains active in publicly addressing issues important to him on social media. He recently posted content from anti-Zionist Tony Greenstein, which drew parallels between Zionism and the Third Reich.
Supporters of Lineker can still enjoy his football commentary on The Rest Is Football podcast, which now broadcasts twice weekly on Netflix throughout the Premier League season. Nevertheless, he shows no signs of reducing his social media activity any time soon.
