BBC's highest-paid presenter Gary Lineker loses job following antisemitism row

Former England football captain and prominent BBC presenter Gary Lineker has stepped down from his role after sharing a controversial post on social media that was widely criticized as antisemitic.

The 64-year-old, considered one of the top football presenters in the UK, came under fire after he shared a post by a pro-Palestinian group that included an image of a rat—an image historically associated with antisemitic tropes.

Although Lineker later issued an apology, the backlash from several organizations and the public put pressure on both him and the broadcaster.

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As a result, the BBC's highest-paid presenter has decided to leave the network at the end of the current season.

This is not the first time Lineker has faced controversy; he was previously taken off air briefly after criticizing UK government policies.