He said on a video on his social media: "Hi everyone, some personal news. Last week I shared a post here on Instagram that contained an emoji that has awful connotations. Unfortunately I did not see the emoji. If I had, I would never, ever have shared it.
"The minute I was made aware I quickly deleted the post and went on to make an apology. I would like, once again, to say I am sorry unreservedly for the hurt and upset caused, it was a genuine mistake and oversight and I should've been more diligent, I know that.
"I've stood up for minorities, humanitarian issues and against all forms of racism all of my life, including of course antisemitism, which I absolutely abhor. There's no place for it. I think it is best for all concerned that I step down from BBC duties all together and not do next season's FA Cup or World Cup. This weekend's Match of the Day will be my last show. It has been a pleasure and a huge privilege to work with the BBC for 30 years.
"The relationship with the BBC has been long and wonderful but it is the right time for the organisation and myself to go our separate ways. Thank you also to all of you for your incredible love and support for so many years, I'll see you all on Sunday."
Gary Lineker has issued an apology have his BBC exit was confirmed and claims now is the right time for him and the organisation to go their separate ways ahead of his final Match of the Day show
www.mirror.co.uk
As I said, he apologised, stated that he would never post anything antiSemitic, and he's moved on.
That doesn't not mean that antiZonism is antiSemitic per se.
If the post was not antiSemitic, and the usual lobby who cry antiSemtisim at every opportunity persuaded Gary to see his post as antiSemitic, that's up to them.
Gary is probably not an expert on antiSemtism, and decided to paky it safe, rather than risk creating a huge furore.
Only that lobby who cry antiSemtism at every opportunity are insisting on creating that furore and trying to argue that antiZionism is antiSemtic per se. It isn't.
The Committee report presented by mbk confirms that. It is only antiSemitic if it is used in abusing Jews.
If Gary did not see the emoji, or did not appreciate the significance of it, he wouldn't have realised that it could have been interpreted as antiSemitic. When he did realise, he apologised and has moved on.
But it till does not men that antiZonism is antiSemitic per se, as you and mbk claim.
He shared a post comparing them (Jews) to rats.
Hopefully those on this forum wont need reminding. No amount of pretending that Zionism is a political ideology will protect them