GARY LINEKER has already told the BBC how to avoid fan fury during coverage of the World Cup 2026 final.
Lineker, 64, was due to bow out from his role as presenter for the broadcaster at the conclusion of next summer’s tournament.
But on Monday, he confirmed he is going to quit the BBC for good after Sunday’s Match of the Day episode covering the final day of the Premier League season.
The ex-Leicester striker previously announced he was stepping back from weekly MOTD duties but was due to continue hosting live FA Cup matches next season before working the World Cup.
However, following an anti-Semitism row, Lineker apologised and went public with his decision to step away from his £1.35million-a-year job with the Beeb.
Lineker agreed to leave the BBC after meeting bosses last week – with a source saying he realised his position was untenable.
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But before his exit, the presenter gave his bosses a piece of advice on covering the 2026 showpiece at the end of the expanded 48-country competition.
The World Cup final will be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
But midway through the biggest match in football, there will be a Super Bowl-style half-time show.
Fifa are working with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin on the plans – which may well mean Coldplay are one of the “multiple artists” set to perform.
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But Lineker is aware the controversial addition will not go down with fans.
And it also gives TV bosses a dilemma about what to do at half-time – show the performances on the pitch or stick to the traditional analysis from pundits.
Lineker, though, reckons he has the solution.
Speaking on his Rest Is Football podcast in March – part of his Goalhanger podcast empire – he said: “I don’t like this, I have to say, before we start.
“I hope it’s not going completely down the road of NFL half-time shows because that’s 25 minutes, half an hour, and I’m not sure we could quite cope with that.
“I’m bowing out soon anyway, but I’ve got one World Cup left in me.
“It’d be interesting to see, if they did have some big, massive half-time show, how TV deals with that because the analysis has always been part of television coverage.
“Does TV suddenly go, ‘No, we’re going to show the half-time show?’
“For someone like BBC, I would say, ‘Stick the show on the red button’, or they might (decide to) stick the analysis on the red button.”
‘SORRY’
Lineker’s Instagram post to confirm his BBC exit came after The Sun revealed he was planning to step down following the scandal which saw him face backlash for re-posting a video which criticised Zionism and included an illustration of a rat.
He said in a statement released at midday on Monday: “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 anti-Semitic – 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.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
