Gary Lineker, the former England soccer player and now a media celebrity, will leave his role as a presenter for the BBC after facing criticism for reposting an Instagram story about Zionism which featured a picture of a rat.

Gary Lineker, a former England soccer captain who became the face of the sport on British TV, will leave the BBC after apologising for sharing a social media post about Zionism that drew complaints over antisemitism.

Gary Lineker has "apologised unreservedly" after being criticised for sharing a social media post about Zionism that included an illustration of a rat. "On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references," he said in a statement. "I very much regret these references.