Gary Lineker is leaving the BBC tonight after apologising for sharing and then deleting a post on his Instagram
Gary Lineker has scored a brace ahead of his BBC exit – by completing two property deals worth £1.6million. The 64-year-old will step down as host of Match of the Day tonight after 26 years in the presenter’s seat and will leave the BBC altogether.
The former England footballer, with an estimated net worth of around £30million, has snapped up the properties in leafy Surrey.
On May 2, Lineker forked out £1million for a 6,700 square foot plot of land in Cheam village, which comes complete with outline planning permission to build eight apartments.
The permission has been granted to build a selection of one, two and three bedroom properties. He has also splashed out £630,000 on a four bedroom detached house in Coulsdon.
Lineker has taken out mortgages for both property deals through Jersey-based company Hambury Limited. The presenter and builder friend George Constand set up their property development company, called GCGL Properties, in 2020.
Lineker was due to leave the Beeb in 2026 after next season’s FA Cup and World Cup.
However he is exiting the broadcaster early, after apologising for sharing and then deleting a post on his Instagram account from the group Palestine Lobby, illustrated with a picture of a rat, which prompted calls for him to be sacked from the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA).
Lineker said: “Football has been at the heart of my life for as long as I can remember – both on the pitch and in the studio. 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.
“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.”
In addition to the apologetic statement released by the BBC, on an instagram video Lineker referenced a post he previously shared about Zionism, which he deleted, and which had featured a picture of a rat.
Sat looking stony faced, he said: “Unfortunately, I did not see the emoji. If I had, I would never, ever have shared it. The minute I was made aware, I quickly deleted the post and went on to make an apology.”
He added: “I would like once again to say I’m sorry, unreservedly, for the hurt and upset caused, it was a genuine mistake and oversight, but I should have been more diligent, I know that.
“I’ve stood up for minorities and humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life, including, of course, antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor. There’s no place for it and never should be.”
Dad of four Linker, who lives in a £4million home in leafy Barnes, south-west London, will also be focusing on his esteemed Goalhanger Podcasts, which consists of shows including The Rest Is Football, which he hosts alongside MOTD pals Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, The Rest Is Politics and The Rest Is History. Astonishingly, his pods receive over 40million downloads a month.
In an interview last month he said when he left the BBC he did not expect to work as much on TV anymore, meaning he will have more time to work on any future additions to his property portfolio.
Lineker will be replaced on MOTD by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan from next season. They are also amongst the favourites to take his other job fronting live football for the BBC.
