BBC chiefs delivered a final snub to Gary Lineker when they axed his last interview without warning — just before his final Match of the Day.
He was due to talk to Liverpool goal hero Mo Salah, but there were fears Lineker — involved in an online row over an antisemitic post — would say something controversial about Gaza.
A source said the plug was pulled by director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, who got the job last summer.
The Sun has revealed there was “no love lost” between Lineker and Kay-Jelski — with the ex-England hero allegedly giving him the cold shoulder at the FA Cup final.
An insider said: “The plan was for the interview to be shown across the BBC the weekend of Gary’s final Match Of The Day.
“That would include on Football Focus the day before as well as online and on social media.
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“Out of nowhere, it got cancelled.
“Some people think they didn’t want Gary and Mo to talk about Gaza.
“Salah has spoken out in his support for Palestinians living in Gaza and Gary has made his feelings clear too.
“It felt like it may have come up naturally in conversation.
“It seems they axed it rather than risk possible editorial issues.
“They’d only just overcome one storm so to face another would have been a nightmare.”
The Sun revealed Gary, 64, was leaving the BBC after 26 years following his sharing of an Instagram post which criticised Zionism.
It included an illustration of a rat — historically used as an antisemitic slur.
With the BBC coming under increasingly intense pressure, Lineker issued two apologies, then agreed to step down from his £1.3million-a-year job
The ex-Spurs star is understood to be focusing on his Goalhanger Podcasts business, as well as considering rival broadcasters’ offers.
He had been suspended from Match Of The Day in March 2023 after a post about the small boats controversy, but was reinstated after a boycott by his co-stars.
The BBC said: “The interview was cancelled because it was planned to air after Gary’s last Match of the Day.
“It would be wrong to suggest anything else.”
However a source insisted: “A cross-platform interview with the Champions’ star player could have aired anytime.
“Salah wanted to speak to Gary so to axe it entirely seems short-sighted.”
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