Gary Lineker talks about his future on Match of the Day during a live broadcast, dispelling rumors of his exit.

During Saturday evening's episode of Match of the Day, Gary Lineker took a moment to address the swirling rumors about his future as host of the iconic BBC sports show. As a former professional footballer and current sports broadcaster, Lineker has been at the helm of Match of the Day for an impressive 25 years. However, recent speculation suggested that this week's episode could be his last.

According to reports, emails had surfaced claiming that Lineker was preparing to announce his departure from the show, with even the director general of the BBC, Tim Davie, paying tribute to his outstanding hosting skills. However, the BBC quickly denied any such announcement and clarified that Lineker was still under contract until the end of the season.

In a witty and lighthearted manner, Lineker addressed the rumors as he introduced the week's episode, saying, "Hello. Seven games on the way and it's my final show...before the international break." With no Premier League fixtures scheduled for next weekend due to players reporting for international duty, there will be no episode of Match of the Day.

Lineker's joke elicited a wry smile from his colleague and former England striker, Alan Shearer, who was sitting beside him on the show. As the highest-paid presenter on the BBC, with an annual salary of £1,350,000, Lineker has had a tumultuous relationship with the broadcaster at times. One of the most high-profile incidents occurred last year when he openly criticized the government's immigration policy and was subsequently required to step back from presenting on the BBC for three days.

His social media post, comparing the Home Office's migrant boat policy to Nazi Germany, sparked both praise and criticism. This led to a bizarre situation where the show was broadcast without any presenters, pundits, or commentators as a show of solidarity towards Lineker. Eventually, the 63-year-old was allowed to return, but he has not been involved in the BBC's new Champions League highlights show.

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]