Gary Lineker claims BBC should 'hold heads in shame' for shelving Gaza film
The former Match of the Day presenter, who fronted the BBC's flagship programme for 26 years until his exit at the end of the football season campaign in May, has taken aim at his former employer with a blunt rant.
The documentary, which was originally commissioned by the BBC and produced by an independent company, explored the healthcare system in Gaza and the impact of Israeli military operations.
Last month, the broadcaster decided against airing the programme themselves, saying in a statement that it 'risked creating a perception of partiality that would not meet the high standards that the public rightly expect of the BBC'.
Instead, producers Basement Films were allowed to shop the documentary around, with Channel 4 airing it earlier this week.
At a London screening of the documentary on Thursday, Lineker spoke on stage and described the piece as 'one of the most important films I've ever seen, certainly the most moving'.
'It needed to be seen. It really did need to be seen,' the retired footballer added, before turning his attention to the BBC.
He said: 'I think the BBC should hold its head in shame. I've worked for the corporation for 30 years; to see the way it's declined in the last year or two has been devastating.'
Lineker also claimed that people at the BBC are 'bowing to pressure from the top', adding: 'This is a worry… Complicity is something that will come to many.'
When asked for comment, the BBC directed Metro to its latest statement, in which the broadcaster said it has 'produced powerful coverage of this conflict'.
The statement continued: 'Alongside breaking news and ongoing analysis, we have produced award winning documentaries such as Life and Death in Gaza, and Gaza 101.
'We have also investigated allegations of abuse of Palestinian prisoners and Israel's attacks on Gaza's hospitals.
'Just today [June 20] we are running a powerful piece of longform journalism that captures the final two weeks inside a Gaza hospital before it was forced to close.
'We want to thank the doctors and contributors and we are sorry we could not tell their stories. The BBC will continue to cover events in Gaza impartially.'
Lineker was initially set to cover the 2025-26 FA Cup and 2026 World Cup for the BBC following his Match of the Day departure, but he left early after an antisemitism row.
At the time, the 64-year-old 'apologised unreservedly' after sparking controversy for sharing and then deleting a video on his Instagram account from the group Palestine Lobby he did not realise was illustrated with a picture of a rat.
Acknowledging he had caused 'error and upset', Lineker said in a statement that exiting the broadcaster seemed the 'responsible course of action.'
He said: 'I care deeply about the game, and about the work I've done with the BBC over many years. As I've said, I would never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for.
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'However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am. Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.'
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