Gary Lineker, the host of BBC’s Match of the Day, has commented on ongoing speculation regarding his future with the network, revealing that negotiations for a new contract have only just begun.
Following a report from MailOnline last week suggesting that the 63-year-old could be leaving the BBC after 25 years, Lineker addressed the matter during a recent episode of his podcast, The Rest is Football, released on Monday. He stated, “I’m coming to the end of my contract in the summer, so it’s natural at some point that you have to have conversations, and they’ve just started.”
Lineker expressed confusion over the extent of the speculation, noting, “I don’t know why it has spiraled out of control, but all is OK. There are bigger problems in the world.”
The former England striker added a humorous touch during Saturday’s Match of the Day, greeting viewers with a cheeky quip: “Hello, seven games on the way and it’s my final show,” before quickly clarifying, “Before the international break.”
The Premier League will pause this weekend for international fixtures, adding to the context of Lineker’s remarks.
During the podcast, Lineker’s co-hosts, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, expressed their concern about him amidst the contract talks. Shearer joked, “Me and Micah have been worried about you the last few days. Can you tell us anything about your contract?”
Lineker responded playfully, highlighting a difference between his situation and that of Liverpool players, stating, “I think there is one significant difference Liverpool fans really care about those three.”
Reflecting on the past few days, he described them as “a strange few days,” noting that his co-stars are “in a similar predicament.”
Richards even mentioned he had been given 4-1 odds to replace Lineker, to which Lineker replied, “Four to one? Blimey. I’d love to see you take over. I think you’d be brilliant in the chair.” Richards laughed off the idea, saying, “No, I wouldn’t!”
Lineker, who has hosted Match of the Day since 1999, is the BBC’s highest-paid star, earning over £1.3 million a year. However, his tenure has not been without controversy; he faced a brief suspension last year due to social media posts about the UK’s asylum policy.
In response to the swirling rumors, a BBC spokesperson clarified, “We have nothing to announce, and we have not agreed next steps with regard to his contract. He is under contract until the end of the season.”
