Gary Lineker: BBC makes statement about future of Match of the Day presenter's contract after email leak

The BBC has issued a statement responding to fresh doubts over Gary Lineker's future at Match Of The Day after emails were leaked suggesting his exit.

The broadcaster said it had not yet agreed a contract extension with one of its biggest and highest-paid stars, dismissing speculation that it was preparing to announce the end of his tenure.

MailOnline reported that it had seen an email purporting to be from BBC bosses preparing to announce the 63-year-old's departure from the broadcaster after 25 years, with BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski leading the decision.

The company denied the announcement and confirmed that his contract runs until the end of the football season, which expires after the Champions League season in May next year.

“We have nothing to announce and we have not agreed on the next steps regarding his contract,” a BBC spokesman said. “He is under contract until the end of the season.”

MailOnline said it had not been able to verify the authenticity of the email.

According to the corporation's annual report published in July, Lineker was the BBC's highest-paid on-air talent for seven years in a row and the only star to earn more than £1 million in 2023/24.

The former England footballer took over the flagship football highlights show in 1999, which is one of the longest-running BBC shows and has been broadcast since 1964 after predecessor Des Lynam moved to ITV.

Lineker told The Independent in August that he was still satisfied in his role at the station despite his “problems”.

“Match Of The Day is such an iconic show, 60 years is such a long time and I hosted it for 25 years,” he said.

“As far as the podcast is concerned, things have really exceeded our expectations but at the same time I love being part of Match Of The Day. I love working for the BBC.

“I know it has its problems and problems, but I think it's great. I think sometimes we don’t shout about how good we are at the BBC and what we offer.”

Rumors of his eventual departure have already sparked debate, with Lineker himself commenting on the matter earlier this year. When asked by BBC Breakfast how much longer he would carry on, he said: “I don't know… I don't know!

“I guess it depends on how long they want me. At the moment I like doing it; I still have at least another year. So we have to wait and see what happens. Obviously it's another change in football and television and Premier League rights and so on.

“All of these things will play a role. But I just feel it’s an absolute privilege to have been able to present it for 25 years now. I must be getting old!”

He was taken off air by the BBC last year for comparing the language used to introduce the state's asylum seeker policy to 1930s Germany. The incident sparked a backlash and led to several of his fellow pundits, including Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, boycotting Match Of The Day over his absence from the show.

Lineker later returned to the show, but new BBC social media rules now ban flagship presenters from making attacks on political parties.

A representative for Lineker has been contacted for comment.