Gary Lineker is publicly backed by Muslim Council of Britain, Kneecap and his ex-wife after BBC axing but only one MOTD colleague

Gary Lineker has been lauded by republican rappers Kneecap, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and his ex-wife after his BBC exit – but there is muted support from Match of the Day colleagues, MailOnline can reveal today. 

The 64-year-old broadcaster faced heavy criticism last week after sharing the post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, historically used as an anti-Semitic insult. 

But his ex-wife Danielle Bux has called him ‘one of the most decent, honorable human beings I know’.

While Richard Bacon, who left the BBC’s Blue Peter in disgrace over his cocaine use, said he is ‘a brave and principled man’.

Lineker will leave his presenting role at the BBC after Sunday’s MOTD and will no longer front its coverage of the 2026 World Cup or the FA Cup next season.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign called the BBC’s decision to axe him ‘a shameful moment for the publicly funded broadcaster’.

The Muslim Council of Britain thanked him for ‘standing up for and being a voice for the voiceless’.

And in response to Lineker’s apology video Irish rap group Kneecap, who have been repeatedly accused of glorifying the IRA, used a series of clapping emojis to show their support.

The group has been investigated by counter-terrorism officer over historic concert footage appeared to show a member of the group shouting ‘up Hamas, up Hezbollah’, and another video allegedly showing one member calling for Conservative MPs to be killed.

But it appears he only received a public message from one Match of the Day colleague since his early exit from the BBC for sharing an anti-Semitic Instagram post was announced yesterday.

After his departure was confirmed by the BBC and in an Instagram video posted by Lineker, MOTD pundit Alan Shearer said simply: ‘Thank you for everything.’

Former Newcastle and England captain Alan Shearer said after  Gary’s exit: ‘Thank you for everything’  – but other MOTD co-stars haven’t commented

There has been no public comment from BBC colleagues Danny Murphy, Micah Richards, Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman or Alex Scott.

A picture of Lineker’s final weeks at the BBC is beginning to emerge from sources who claim that he had not been speaking to colleagues.

Lineker had reportedly ‘blanked’ BBC Sport boss Alex Kay-Jelski at Wembley during FA Cup final on Saturday and has ‘barely spoken’ to his Match of the Day replacements Logan, Chapman and Cates, according to The Times.

BBC colleagues were shocked by his apology for sharing the anti-Semitic Instagram post because apparently him saying sorry is as ‘rare as hens teeth’, one BBC staffer claimed.

And amid concerns that he may survive colleagues apparently briefed BBC Media and Culture Editor Katie Razzall.

One worker told her: ‘This is just too much. No other BBC presenter would be able to get away with this.’

BBC Director General Tim Davie was warned that he would be fired if Gary Lineker wasn’t thrown out over an anti-Semitic Instagram post, it was claimed today.

The corporation’s chairman Samir Shah was apparently so enraged by the Match of the Day star’s latest impartiality scandal that he warned Mr Davie that Lineker ‘had to go’ – or he would.

‘There is no way we can put up with this any longer’, Mr Shah reportedly said.

The 64-year-old former footballer was axed by the BBC yesterday without a pay-off following the row.

Lineker, had been expected to front coverage of the FA Cup and 2026 World Cup but will now step down after presenting his final Match Of The Day on Sunday.

He faced heavy criticism last week after sharing the post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat, historically used as an anti-Semitic insult.

Speaking in his News Agents podcast with Emily Maitlis, former BBC journalist Jon Sopel has claimed that Tim Davie’s job was on the line if Lineker wasn’t thrown out. 

‘There was immense pressure Tim Davie was under from Samir Shah, the chairman’, he said.

‘It was more or less made clear to Tim Davie that if Gary Lineker doesn’t go, you Tim Davie are going to go because there is no way we can put up with this any longer’.

Mr Shah was apparently angry that ‘no heads had rolled’ over the Gaza documentary pulled by the BBC because the son of a Hamas chief was used a narrator.

Mr Sopel said: ‘He [Shah] has been frustrated. And here we had another clear and egregious example of a lack of impartiality and he was the one who said Gary Lineker had to go, had to go more or less immediately.

‘There was no fudging of this issue. There was no accepting of apologies and moving on. For him this was a line in the sand.

‘You’ve got to see this as a Chairman exerting is authority where the BBC has been too weak on impartiality and with talent’.

Mr Sopel claims that Tim Davie or Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski delivered the news. 

‘It is my understand that he was told in no uncertain terms that he had to go’, he said.

The near-silence from BBC staff is in stark contrast to when the BBC decision’s to boot Lineker off air in March 2023 led to mass walkouts and public messages of support from fellow broadcasters. 

Then, Ian Wright – who no longer works for the show – and Shearer staged a walkout in solidarity, which began an exodus of BBC staff from the show in protest.

Alex Scott, Jermaine Jenas, Mark Chapman and Micah Richards followed suit before the commentators did too, which led to emergency talks on how the show could air.

Lineker was temporarily suspended from the BBC at the time after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then-government’s new asylum policy. 

The popular Premier League highlights show eventually went ahead on air without a studio presenter or a roster of pundits for the first time in its 59-year history. 

This time, Lineker been backed by former and current BBC staff such as ex-5 Live host Richard Bacon, who tweeted: ‘I think Gary Lineker is a brave and principled man.

Lineker jumped down his steps as he left his home yesterday after it was announced he was leaving the BBC earlier than planned

BBC chairman Samir Shah was apparently so enraged by the Match of the Day star’s latest impartiality scandal that he warned Mr Davie that Lineker ‘had to go’ – or the Director General would, Jon Sopel has claimed

‘He cares deeply about children being starved by Netenyahu. About the vast numbers of innocent people that have been killed without justification. So many children. His views are in line with Amnesty. He is kind and decent.’

Former BBC Radio 4 broadcaster Sangita Myska tweeted: ‘Gary Lineker’s biggest ‘error’ was to care about the on-going slaughter of children in Gaza and call it such in public. It’s the kind of ‘error’ more people should make.’

And Radio 2’s DJ Spoony, real name Johnathan Joseph, said on Instagram: ‘Thank you for all your broadcasting magic, Gary. You’ll look back and be proud of your career.’

He also got support from The Apprentice host Lord Sugar, who said: ‘I am sure that Gary Lineker will show up at another broadcaster before the start of the next season.

‘Sky for example are making a big thing now that they have secured over 200 games next Premier League season. See you on Sky or TNT, Gary.’

TNT Sports presenter Rio Ferdinand, who has also worked for the BBC, posted a Goat [Greatest of All Time] emoji, jokingly adding: ‘See you soon!’

Others to back Lineker included his former wife Danielle Bux who wrote: ‘One of the most decent, honourable human beings I know. Keep shining.’

Comedian John Bishop added: ‘Gary you leave a great legacy as a player, as a presenter and as a man. Good luck with everything else you do next.’

Meanwhile Olympic athlete and broadcaster Iwan Thomas said: ‘Always been a proper gentleman since met and occasionally worked with since the mid-90s.

‘Without doubt one of, if not the best broadcasters of my generation, oh and not bad at sticking a ball in the net too… good luck in the future.’

And TV commentator Narinder Kaur wrote: ‘I feel incredibly sorry for Gary Lineker… he made one mistake, a genuine mistake. He has apologised. He’s resigned. You can all calm TF [the f**k] down now.

‘The silver lining is he is now FREE from the shackles of the BBC and [can] carry on fighting for children being slaughtered and starved to death as we speak… history will remember you kindly, Gary.’

Others backing him were former Soccer AM host Lloyd Griffith who said: ‘You’re a really great human’

Presenter & DJ Ashley James also said: ‘You’re such a voice for good and always have been. You’re an amazing broadcaster and I hope you’re OK – the last week must have been incredibly tough.’

It comes after Lineker issued an unreserved apology for a social media video he shared which led to his early exit from the BBC – as Downing Street branded the post ‘completely unacceptable’.

In a video on Instagram, in which the presenter referenced a deleted post he had previously shared about Zionism that featured a picture of a rat, he said: ‘I would like once again to say I’m sorry, unreservedly, for the hurt and upset caused, it was a genuine mistake and oversight, but I should have been more diligent, I know that.’

The BBC’s highest-paid presenter has headed up Match Of The Day since 1999 and had announced he would be leaving the programme last year at the end of the season, but would still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.

His early departure, after 26 years at the BBC, came amid reports the corporation’s bosses considered his position ‘untenable’, according to BBC News.

Downing Street said Lineker had made a ‘significant contribution’ to the BBC but it was important the broadcaster upholds the ‘highest standards’.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘Specifically in relation to the social media post by Gary Lineker, that was clearly completely unacceptable and it’s right that he’s apologised.

‘Gary Lineker has obviously made a significant contribution to the BBC’s broadcasting over the last two decades and we obviously wish him the best.’

In the Instagram video, Lineker said that Sunday will be his last show, adding it was ‘best for all concerned that I step down from BBC presenting duties altogether and not do next season’s FA Cup or World Cup’.

Lineker said the relationship with the BBC had been ‘long and wonderful’, adding it was ‘the right time for the organisation and myself to go our separate ways’.

Tim Davie, BBC director-general, said in a statement: ‘Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made. Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.

‘His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism, and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond.’

Logan, Cates and Chapman will replace the Leicester-born star and share the presenting role on Match Of The Day from the next Premier League season.