I felt BBC wanted me to leave Match of the Day

Gary Lineker has said that he believes that the BBC wanted him to leave the game of the day while negotiating a new contract last year.

The presenter and the BBC announced together in November that would resign the flagship football program, although it will still be to organize the coverage of the World Cup and the FA Cup.

When asked about Amol Rajan of the BBC why he would choose to leave his successful mandate, Lineker said: “Well, maybe because I left. There was a sense of that.”

The BBC did not comment that suggestion, but over time the departure of Lineker was announced, the sports director of the Corporation described it as a “world -class presenter.”

However, the BBC pointed out in the same statement that coincides with the day “evolves continuously to change visualization habits.”

In January a new trio of presenters, Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan were announced.

Reflecting on his game of the day game, Lineker told Rajan: “It’s time. I have done it for a long time, it’s brilliant.”

However, he asked why he would like to leave when the qualifications were still high and that it was a work lineker that he still enjoyed, the former footballer said that “he had the feeling” of the BBC that gave him to give up.

“I always wanted one more contract, and I was umm-in and ahh-in if doing three years [more]”Lineker explained.

But, he continued, the question of how long to sign was complicated by the cycle of transmission rights for the parties.

“In the end, I think there was a feeling that, because it was a new period of rights, it was an opportunity to change the program,” he said.

“I think it was his preference that did not coincide with the day for another year, so they could bring new people. Therefore, it is a bit unusual for them to do the FA -Cup and the World Cup, but to be honest, it is a scenario A is a a a a a a a a a a is aaa is aaa a a ace is.” “.”

Lineker added that he was happy that his football podcasts had collected the leg by BBC Sounds as part of an agreement with the corporation.

Lineker was also asked about the comments he published on social networks in March 2023, criticizes the immigration policy of the then government.

The comments led to their suspension of the BBC, which led to other sports presenters to lower tools in solidarity, something that Lineker said he felt “moved.”

Reflecting on his tweets, Lineker said he did not regret the position he did, but that would not do it due to the “damage” he did to the BBC.

“I do not regret saying them publicly, because I was right, what I said, was exact, so not at all in that sense.

“Would I do it, in retrospect, I would do it again? No, I would like, due to all the nonsense that came with him … It was an exaggerated ridiculous reaction that was just an answer to some that was being very rude.

He continued: “But I would do it again or all the kefuffle that followed, and I love the BBC, and I did not like the damage it did to the BBC … but did I regret and I think it was the won things to do?”

The row exploded when Lineker described an asylum policy of the “cruel Immacente” government, and said that a video promotion that used a language that “was not different from that used by Germany in the 30s.”

The Secretary of the Interior at that time, Sála Braverman, who appeared in the video, described her criticism as “offensive” and “lazy”, while Downing Street said that “it was not acceptable.”

The Lineker publication revived the debate on the BBC impartiality guide on social networks and how it was applied to the presenters.

Although the staff working in current news and issues are expected to remain impartial on social platforms, there had been questions about how much the rules were extended to the personalities of the BBC in other areas, such as entertainment and sport.

Lineker argued that the previous set of rules “were for people in news and current issues.”

“They have changed subsequently,” he acknowledged. “But that left people like me, who has always given their honest opinions about things, after suddenly changed them and you have to go:” Oh, now I have to be impartial. “It makes no sense.”

He added: “I have always lit the humanitarian problems and it will always be, and that is me.”

Lineker said that, after his tweets, “the posts moved greatly because it was never a problem until, suddenly, this point.”

The BBC updated its orientation in social networks in 2023 after a review that was entrusted following the consequences on Lineker Tweets.

The corporation said that the presenters of emblematic programs, such as Match of the Day, have a particular responsibility to respect the impartiality of the BBC, due to their profile in the BBC. “

When asked if he understood that his comments gave ammunition to the critics of the BBC, Lineker said: “Yes, of course, I understand it, but do I do it wrong what I did? I don’t believe it.

Lineker reached the headlines recently when he, along with 500 high profile figures, signed an open later urging the BBC to restore a documentary on Gaza to Iplayer.

The documentary, Gaza: how to survive a war zone, was taken from the transmission service in February after it arose that his 13 -year -old narrator was the son of a Hamas official.

Lineker told Rajan that “100%” would support the documentary that is made available again, arguing: “I think you let people think. We are adults. We are allowed to see things like that. It is an incredible movement.”

He added that, however, the 13 -year -old was narrating the program, the script “did not have a leg written by [the child]It is a leg written by the people who produced the show. “

“Believe [the BBC] Simply capitulated to press that they get a lot, “he said.

After the concerns were raised, the BBC tok in the program while carrying out greater due diligence. The matter is still being investigated by the Corporation.

The BBC said it had identified serious failures in the realization of the documentary. The BBC Board said the mistakes were “significant and harmful.”

In the wide interview, which will also be broadcast on Tuesday, Lineker also his football career, the battle of his son’s leukemia when he was a baby and his views about the sponsorship of the game in sports.

Lineker said the football industry should rethink its responsibility when it comes to taking money from game companies.

“I know people [for whom] It becomes an addiction, you can completely destroy your lives, “he said.

“There is talk of taking [logos] Outside the shirts, but you see it in the boards around the ground everywhere.

“I think football needs a long and difficult look at that, I really do.”

In addition to its presentation papers, Lineker is also the co-founder of the Gothanger podcasts, which make the rest the history series and their spin-offs on politics, football, entertainment and money.

The 64 -year -old man told Rajan his next career movement “Wan Be More Telly”, and added: “I think I will go back to that now.

“I think I will probably concentrate more on the world of podcast, because it is a very fun business and it is just a very incredible leg.”

Amol Rajan interviews: Gary Lineker It is in BBC Iplayer from 06:00 and will be broadcast on the BBC two at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.