GARY LINEKER is being forced out Match of the Day at the end of the season after his stance on requesting Israel to be banned by FIFA, – and the BBC are being forced to make the change and in the process looking at who can replace him.
The popular presenter, 63, took over hosting duties on the flagship BBC programme from Des Lynam in 1999.
But after more than 25 years in the studio hotseat, he has called time on his MOTD gig.
BBC chiefs are now looking to fill his considerable boots.
And The Sun can exclusively reveal that one proposed option includes a series of presenters with Mark Chapman, currently host of MOTD2, one of the anchors likely to be rotated.
Former Leicester, Everton, Tottenham and Barcelona hero Lineker will continue presenting the Premier League highlights show until the end of the season.
Gary absolutely adores Match of the Day
A BBC source said: “Gary absolutely adores Match of the Day and has been incredibly happy at the BBC.
“But he has been at the helm since 1999, and by the time he leaves he will have been at the Beeb for 30 years.
“He wants to leave on a high – and if England win the World Cup, it doesn’t get much higher.
“It’s one of the industry’s worst-kept secrets that the new BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski and Gary aren’t exactly close. The former is very keen to make his mark by bringing in new faces and slashing wage bills.
“Negotiations have been ongoing for the past six weeks and finally a deal has been struck that everyone is pleased with.
“BBC execs will be giving Match of the Day a reboot to keep it fresh in the wake of such a huge departure.”
And part of that will include finding the replacement – or replacements – for Lineker.
Gary Lineker’s best Match of the Day moments
Jermaine Jenas was long seen as the successor but the former Prem star is now out of the running after being AXED by the Beeb for his sexting scandal.
So with Lineker vacating the chair, several new names will collectively step into his giant boots.
Who, though, could they be?
MARK CHAPMAN
SunSport understands 51-year-old Chapman will likely be one of the presenters rotated in the new-look MOTD format.
He already has the gig as MOTD2 host on a Sunday night plus landed the hosting job for the new BBC Champions League highlights show.
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson, 67, feels Chapman is poised for the job because he’s the clear No1 candidate.
He said: “In Chappers, there is a ready-made replacement if it goes that way. It will be up to Gary.”
Though not a former player, Chappers has shown his quality as a presenter and would be an able replacement.
ALEX SCOTT
Scott gets the nod from the Beeb bosses when Lineker is away.
She is used to presenting the Saturday night show but is also perfectly adept at the live match coverage at football stadiums – as demonstrated at the Euros, FA Cup and WSL.
The former right-back, 40, also ticks the box of being an ex-England international and has a long broadcasting career still ahead of her.
Like Scott, Logan – who at 51 is the same age as Chapman – is one of the understudies to step in when Lineker is not available.
A vastly-experienced broadcaster, presenter and host, Logan seems to have done it all to cover sport for BBC TV – doing everything from Sports Personality of the Year to the Olympics, including Paris 2024.
She joined Lineker, Scott and Chapman as Euros presenters and is now on the BBC and Amazon Prime teams for the 2024-25 Champions League.
Logan joined the BBC in 2007 and was the main face of Final Score from 2009 to 2013.
MICAH RICHARDS
Lineker’s top pick to replace him is 36-year-old former Man City defender and close pal Richards.
The former England forward revealed his preferred candidate on their Stick to Football podcast last month.
Lineker told the exuberant pundit: “I’d love to see you take over Micah, I think you’d be brilliant in the chair.”
It prompted a hilarious one-liner from Alan Shearer, who said: “That is a f****** massive concern by the way.”
The Newcastle icon joked, “I’m not signing my new contract if you’re a presenter,” as the trio were left in hysterics.
JASON MOHAMMAD
Going back to Final Score and Mohammad, also 51, could earn the “promotion” from the afternoon show to Match of the Day.
The Welshman is one of the BBC’s top earners already and is clearly well thought of within the organisation after taking over from Logan in 2013.
He is more senior than fellow Final Score and BBC Sport broadcaster Kelly Somers, who could in theory become the main live host for the PM slot with Mohammad on the Match of the Day rota.
JEFF STELLING
He couldn’t, could he?
While Lineker has been the face of Saturday night TV for football fans for years, the face of the afternoons was Stelling in his role as Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday presenter.