BBC Cancelled Gary Lineker's Final Match of the Day Interview with Mo Salah Over Gaza
London (Quds News Network)- Gary Lineker's final interview as host of Match of the Day, planned with Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, was reportedly cancelled by the BBC shortly before his farewell episode over concerns that the conversation could touch on the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.
The former England striker, 64, stepped down from the programme last weekend after 25 years, following an agreement to part ways earlier than expected.
The decision came in the wake of Lineker apologising for sharing a social media post deemed antisemitic, prompting discussions with BBC leadership that led to his early exit.
More than 10,000 people signed a petition, sponsored by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which urged the BBC to “immediately remove Gary Lineker from his position”.
According to a report by The Sun, Lineker had been scheduled to interview Salah in what would have been his last segment for both Match of the Day and Football Focus.
However, the BBC pulled the interview at short notice. Sources cited in the report suggest the decision may have been driven by concerns that the conversation could touch on the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza.
Salah has publicly voiced support for Palestinians in Gaza, while Lineker has previously commented on the issue, prompting speculation that their conversation would touch on the genocide in the Palestinian enclave.
A source told the newspaper: "Some people think they didn’t want Gary and Mo to talk about Gaza. It felt like it may have come up naturally in conversation. It seems they axed it rather than risk possible editorial issues."
The BBC, however, denied any political motive. A spokesperson said: "The interview was cancelled because it was planned to air after Gary's last Match of the Day. It would be wrong to suggest anything else."
Earlier in 2025, Lineker was among hundreds who signed an open letter urging the BBC to rebroadcast a documentary on Gaza.
The BBC came under fire for withdrawing a documentary about children in Gaza entitled, Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, and delaying the broadcast of another about medical workers in the war-torn enclave entitled: Gaza: Medics Under Fire.
The documentary was cleared for release in February 2025, with critics, including Lineker, accusing the broadcaster of censorship for withholding frontline testimony from Gaza’s health workers.
