Gary Lineker deletes 'Zionism' post after criticism
- Gary Lineker deleted an Instagram post containing a rat emoji linked to Zionism on May 12, 2025, after it sparked criticism in the UK.
- The post, shared from the Palestine Lobby group, included antisemitic imagery historically used by Nazis to demonize Jews, which Lineker said he did not notice.
- Lineker apologized unreservedly, taking full responsibility and stating he would never knowingly share antisemitic content while defending humanitarian discourse about Gaza.
- Campaign Against Antisemitism called Lineker's BBC role untenable and demanded his removal, stating the post echoed hateful Nazi-era themes and posting “He must go.”
- Lineker will leave BBC’s Match of the Day after the current British soccer season but continue World Cup coverage amid ongoing debate about his conduct and the BBC’s response.
39 Articles
39 Articles


BBC's main soccer presenter Lineker issues apology after sharing 'antisemitic' social media post
LONDON (AP) — Gary Lineker, the former England soccer player who became a leading sports broadcaster on the BBC, has "apologized unreservedly” for reposting an Instagram story about Zionism which featured a picture of a rat.
As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji
Israel’s genocide is in its 19th month. Overnight, as airstrikes kept targeting hospitals and refugee camps, the apartheid state murdered 22 more children. UN officials are saying it is “deliberately and unashamedly” using starvation as a weapon of war amid imminent famine in occupied Gaza. But genocide apologists would rather get angry about Gary Lineker resharing an Instagram post with a questionable emoji on it. This is the utter absurdity we…
‘That image does not reflect my views’ – Gary Lineker apologises for online post about Zionism with picture of rat
Gary Lineker has “apologised unreservedly” for an Instagram story about Zionism which featured a picture of a rat, saying: “I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views.”
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