Gary Lineker will leave his role at the BBC earlier than expected, following controversy surrounding a social media post he shared that included anti-Semitic imagery. The announcement was made on Monday, just days after the incident drew criticism. The former England striker, who is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, had been scheduled to lead coverage of the 2026 World Cup and next season’s FA Cup. However, those plans have been cancelled. Lineker’s final appearance will be this Sunday on Match of the Day, which coincides with the final day of the Premier League season. “Gary Lineker will leave his presenting role following the conclusion of Match of the Day for the 2024/25 season,” the BBC said in a statement. “He will not be part of the BBC’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup or next season’s FA Cup coverage.” The controversy began last week when Lineker shared an Instagram story that included an image related to Zionism, which featured a rat(an image widely recognised as having anti-Semitic associations). After facing backlash, he deleted the post and issued a public apology, stating he would “never knowingly share anything anti-Semitic”. In a further statement issued on Monday, Lineker reiterated his regret. “I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am,” he said. “Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.” Reflecting on his time with the BBC, he added: “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. “

Brentford’s hopes of securing a European spot took a hit as Fulham claimed a dramatic 3-2 win at the Gtech Community Stadium, keeping their own UEFA Conference League aspirations alive. The first half saw plenty of action. Mikkel Damsgaard played in Yoane Wissa, whose effort was blocked by Bernd Leno, with the rebound also stopped. Fulham then took the lead after 16 minutes when Raúl Jiménez out jumped Nathan Collins to head in Adama Traoré’s deflected cross. Brentford quickly responded. Bryan Mbeumo whipped a dangerous free-kick across goal before equalising with a low shot into the bottom corner. Moments later, Kevin Schade was brought down in the box by Joachim Andersen, handing Brentford a chance to go in front. Mbeumo, possibly making his final home appearance, stepped up for the penalty but saw his attempt saved by Leno, his first miss from the spot for Brentford. Despite the missed opportunity, Brentford ended the half ahead. A long throw from Michael Kayode led to chaos in the box, with Christian Nørgaard  heading goalward and Wissa helping the ball over the line. Fulham entered the second half trailing, having dropped the joint-most points from winning positions in the league this season. But they staged another turnaround with two quick goals that flipped the match. After applying sustained pressure, the visitors scored twice in three minutes to snatch all three points, leaving Brentford frustrated and Fulham still in the hunt for a top-eight finish.

Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory against a depleted Sevilla side at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Kylian Mbappé further cemented his position as LaLiga’s top scorer during this penultimate round match. Sevilla, having already ensured their LaLiga survival with a midweek win against Las Palmas, might have quietly hoped to claim a rare home victory against Real Madrid. However, with nothing more than second place guaranteed for Los Blancos, Real Madrid began the match with clear determination, dominating the early stages. The first quarter-hour saw limited clear chances but plenty of intensity, punctuated by a key moment when Loïc Badé was shown a red card. The Sevilla defender was sent off for apparently tripping Mbappé during a sprint towards goal, although some felt the forward’s tumble was somewhat exaggerated. Real Madrid’s attacking threat increased as Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde each had attempts blocked. Mbappé, growing more dangerous down the left wing, received a perfectly timed long pass from Luka Modrić, but under pressure from Nemanja Gudelj. He could only manage a side-footed effort that didn’t trouble the goalkeeper. Sevilla’s best chance of the first half came just before halftime. Jacobo Ramón lost possession to Álvaro Pascual, who broke free one-on-one with Real Madrid keeper Andriy Lunin. However, Lunin closed the angle well forcing Pascual’s shot wide of the post. Despite Sevilla’s late scare, Real Madrid controlled the game and eventually converted their dominance into goals.

Manchester City have reportedly pulled out of the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, with the total cost of a potential deal deemed too high. Wirtz has enjoyed a standout season, scoring 16 goals and registering 15 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions. His form has attracted interest from Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and City. According to the BBC, the full cost of signing the 22-year-old could reach €300 million, including transfer fees and wages. “City are concerned the cost of the deal is over-inflated,” the report stated, despite acknowledging Wirtz’s status as one of Europe’s top young talents. Liverpool may now hold an advantage, having already made contact with the player’s representatives. The Reds have also triggered the £30 million release clause for Wirtz’s teammate Jeremie Frimpong‘s , with his arrival expected to be confirmed shortly. With City stepping back, Liverpool manager Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes could push ahead in their pursuit of Wirtz, especially after two relatively modest transfer windows since Slot took over in 2024. City will continue searching for a creative midfielder, with Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White emerging as a possible alternative. Pep Guardiola, who spent £180 million in January, is keen to refresh his squad ahead of the Club World Cup, following a heavy FA Cup final defeat.