The BBC haver since denied any such pending announcement and said Lineker was still under contract until the end of the season. And introducing this week’s show, Lineker made li

Gary Lineker pokes fun at Match of the Day exit rumours with opening joke - The former England footballer took over the flagship football highlights show in 1999.

Gary Lineker has poked fun at the intense speculation regarding his Match of the Day future on the latest edition of the BBC’s flagship football highlights programme. Speculation that the former England striker’s time in the iconic MOTD hosting chair was coming to an end after 25 years has been rife this week after the Daily Mail reported to have seen a ‘leaked’ email purportedly from the BBC’s director of sport featuring a statement announcing his departure.