Gary Lineker pulls out of Match of the Day at last-minute as he says ‘I’ve been silenced’

GARY LINEKER has been forced to pull out of tonight’s Match Of The Day.

And in typical style, the England legend let his fans know the news with a joke.

Lineker has been the main host of the Premier League highlights show since 1999 – but he’s had to withdraw from the line-up tonight.

Instead, Mark Chapman will step in to replace him.

Lineker took to X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday afternoon to break the news to fans, confirming he is under the weather.

Lineker wrote: “Some good news for some: I’ve been silenced….with a rotten cold that seems to be lasting forever.

“Hate missing hosting @BBCMOTD but I’ll be watching.”

Fans were quick to wish the former striker well, with one person tweeting: “Get well soon Gary, we need you in strong voice!”

Another commented: “Get well soon Gary!”

While a Newcastle fan joked: “Get well soon Gary. And you’re doing the right thing. We don’t want Wor Al catching it.”

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Lineker has presented Match Of The Day for almost 25 years.

He is regularly joined on the show by the likes of Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Micah Richards.

Match Of The Day and BBC Sport struck a new four-year agreement with the Premier League in December.

The TV programme will continue to show Premier League highlights until 2029.

Lineker is also set to agree a huge contract extension with the BBC.

The Leicester legend has recently been embroiled in some controversies with the BBC.

Last month he sparked a row and was slammed as “ignorant” after sharing a tweet calling to ban Israel from world football.

Lineker reposted a statement on X from a pro-Palestinian campaign calling for Israel to be ousted from global tournaments and games “until it ends its grave violations of international law”.

And last March he sparked an impartiality row after saying the Government rhetoric on immigration was similar to that of 1930s Germany.