The BBC addressed a technical error with Sky Sports after the broadcaster mistakenly displayed Gary Lineker's image on their Match of the Day programme page ahead of Saturday's first episode of the new season. According to the Daily Mail, the BBC had a "quiet word" with Sky about the blunder, which was attributed to a technical mistake.
Mark Chapman successfully took over presenting duties from Lineker, impressing viewers with his debut performance. The experienced broadcaster, who has hosted Match of the Day 2 for 12 years, will rotate presenting responsibilities with Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan throughout the season.
Lineker's gracious endorsement
Lineker watched the programme from home and offered his praise on The Rest Is Football podcast. "I thought it was really good. Chappers did a great job," he said. "And despite all... there was a lot of talk that they were going to change things. And I think you know what it's like when you get a new guy in as new head of sport thinking he wants to do this, wants to do that. But in the end, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And I think that was very much the sensible decision and I thought the programme was great."
The 64-year-old reflected on the unusual experience of watching rather than presenting. "It wasn't weird, really. I was quite relaxed. I was thinking I haven't got a three-and-a-half hour journey at the end of the show, but no, I really enjoyed watching it. I think that's the first time that I've watched Match of the Day on a Saturday night for... I don't know how many years."
End of lengthy tenure
Lineker's departure followed an antisemitism controversy involving social media posts, cutting short his planned tenure until the 2026 World Cup. He had hosted Match of the Day for 26 years, taking over from Des Lynam in 1999, making him one of the programme's longest-serving presenters.
The transition maintains the show's traditional format, with minimal changes implemented despite initial suggestions for modifications. Chapman's approach preserved the programme's established structure, proving popular with viewers who appreciated the continuity.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Daily Mail", "Mirror", "Leicester Mercury", "GBNews" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
