Gary Lineker has just a year left on his BBC contract (Photo: Getty)
Gary Lineker’s future with the BBC has been cast into doubt following reports that he will not host their Champions League highlights programme.
BBC have struck a three-year deal to broadcast Champions League highlights for the first time next season.
Lineker, who has hosted Match of the Day since 1999, is the obvious choice to front the new programme, having also previously been the face of BT Sport’s UCL coverage.
However, The Telegraph report that Gabby Logan is instead in line to present the new show which will go kick-off in September and go out on Wednesday nights.
England legend Lineker has just 12 months left on his BBC contract and this news will no doubt create speculation that his time with the broadcaster is coming to an end, especially after he was briefly suspended last year.
In March 2023, he was suspended for a week by the BBC after tweeting this about the Government’s controversial asylum policy: ‘This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s.’
Fellow pundits and commentators went on strike in support of their colleague which led to Match of the Day broadcasting without a host, pundits or commentary, before the 63-year-old was reinstated.
Gabby Logan looks set to present the BBC’s Champions League coverage (Photo: Getty)
Though his comments were thought to be in breach of the BBC’s impartially rules, an independent panel later ruled that the non-news presenters should be able to express political opinions.
However, the report adds that Lineker’s non-selection for the new Champions League show may instead down to his busy schedule which includes Match of the Day, live FA Cup coverage and The Rest is Football podcast.
The former striker is said to be reluctant to travel to the BBC headquarters in Salford from his west London home for the additional midweek programme.
Both Lineker, who is the BBC’s highest paid presenter with a annual salary of £1.35million, and Logan have been fronting the Beeb’s Euro 2024 coverage.
Some of his comments throughout the tournament have divided fans, not least when he described England’s performance in the 1-1 draw with Denmark as ‘s**t’, something that irked the Three Lions players.
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