Gary Lineker’s final interview with Mohamed Salah ‘scrapped’ ahead of BBC exit

The alleged reason for Gary Lineker’s final blow from the BBC ahead of his exit has been revealed.

Lineker, 64, bowed out of presenting Match of the Day last month after 26 years at the helm.

It was initially claimed that the sports pundit was due to interview Liverpool star Mohamed Salah before his exit, but the BBC has scotched reports that the reason they put a stop to the interview was because they feared discussions would turn political.

The broadcaster has now made it clear that ‘the only reason’ the interview was cancelled was because of when it was due to air.

A source allegedly told The Sun: ‘The plan was for the interview to be shown across the BBC the weekend of Gary’s final Match of the Day.

‘That would include on Football Focus the day before, as well as online and on social media.’

But ‘out of nowhere, it got cancelled’ by Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski, who took over the role from Barbara Slater last April.

‘Some people think they didn’t want Gary and Mo to talk about Gaza,’ said the source.

‘Salah has spoken out in his support for Palestinians living in Gaza, and Gary has made his feelings clear too.’

Bosses reportedly feared the ongoing war would ‘come up naturally in conversation’.

Consequently, the BBC preferred to ‘axe’ the interview rather than ‘risk possible editorial issues’.

‘They’d only just overcome one storm, so to face another would have been a nightmare.’

But when contacted for comment, a BBC spokesperson told Metro that the interview was actually scrapped for a different reason.

‘The only reason the interview was cancelled was because it was planned to air after Gary’s last match of the day, and it would be wrong to suggest anything else,’ they said.

It comes after a source also previously told The Sun that Lineker was ‘well-liked’ among his co-stars ahead of his departure.

Lineker’s final MOTD aired last Sunday, which he fronted alongside pundits Micah Richards and Alan Shearer, with whom he also presents the Rest Is Football podcast.

He announced his departure from the BBC following a row after he shared a post about Zionism, which featured a depiction of a rat, historically an antisemitic insult.

Lineker, the BBC’s highest-paid presenter on a £1.4million salary, issued an unreserved apology over the Instagram Story, as it was confirmed he would leave his presenting role at the Beeb early and would no longer front coverage of the 2026 World Cup or next season’s FA Cup.

‘On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references,’ he said in a statement at the time. ‘I very much regret these references.

‘I would never knowingly share anything antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.’

Lineker deleted the post ‘as soon as [he] became aware of the issue.’

In his final sign-off from the highlights show, he struggled to speak through tears.

Lineker described his time on the programme as ‘utterly joyous’ as he thanked his co-stars and those working behind the scenes.

‘Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the other pundits I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last 25 years. You’ve made my job so much easier,’ he began.