Gary Lineker to Star in New Amazon Series Addressing His Career and Controversies Over Israel Comments

Gary Lineker will be the subject of a new four-part documentary series on Amazon Prime, set to release in 2027. The series will chronicle his illustrious football career, from his upbringing in Leicester as the son of a greengrocer to his time playing for clubs including Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, and Nagoya Grampus. It will also explore his post-retirement media career, notably his 26 years hosting BBC's "Match of the Day," where he became one of the corporation's highest-paid employees.

The documentary will delve into the controversies that have surrounded Lineker in recent years, particularly the backlash following his comments on Israel and Palestine. The controversy began after he shared an Instagram post from the Palestine Lobby group titled "Zionism Explained in Two Minutes," which included an image of a rat, a symbol criticized for its antisemitic connotations. Lineker deleted the post and apologized but continued to speak on related issues. In a podcast interview with Palestine Deep Dive, he admitted the post was a mistake but denied being antisemitic. He also called on FIFA to suspend Israel, emphasizing football's power to effect change.

Lineker's disputes with the BBC are also covered, including his temporary suspension in 2023 after criticizing the UK government's asylum policies. Beyond football and controversy, the series will highlight his ongoing media ventures through his production company Goalhanger, which produces podcasts such as "The Rest Is Football."