Match of the Day chaos as BBC 'fear mass exodus' of top pundits after clashes emerge

The BBC is at risk of a mass exodus of pundits with fears growing on the eve of the new Premier League season, it has been claimed. It comes just one year after the broadcaster changed its presenting team for flagship football show Match of the Day, with Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan now sharing presenting duties.

Cates, Chapman and Logan took over after Gary Lineker's 25-year stint with the Beeb was brought to an end. Lineker brought his The Rest is Football show to Netflix during the World Cup and has agreed a deal with the streaming service to stay there for the next two Premier League seasons.

According to The Sun, a number of Match of the Day pundits have been weighing up whether to leave for Lineker's new show after Alan Shearer and Micah Richards divided their time between the two during the World Cup. The same publication alleges there have been clashes between BBC head of sport Alex Kay-Jelski and unnamed members of the Match of the Day team.

The same report points to the deal signed between Gary Neville and Disney+ for The Overlap's podcast content, suggesting this too could offer pundits alternatives to Match of the Day. The BBC said in a statement: “We have repeatedly told The Sun these anonymous claims are untrue and we look forward to bringing audiences the return of Match of the Day this weekend with its established line-up of presenters and pundits – alongside a host of new guest voices bringing fresh insight from inside the game.”

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Lineker had initially been slated to present the BBC's World Cup coverage even after leaving Match of the Day. However this changed when he walked away in May 2025 amid backlash to a social media post and he has since spoken about his life away from the Beeb.

"I've got a bit more time, I'm not treading on quite so many eggshells these days, I'm allowed an opinion on things.," he told the Press Association ahead of the tournament in North America

"But no, I had a wonderful period at the Beeb, and I've covered so many major tournaments, and obviously I was going to do this (the 2026 World Cup) originally, but now I'm doing something different, which is really exciting."

While the latest reports point to a fear of further pundit exits, there have also been suggestions of a new addition. Former Tottenham and Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld, who retired from playing in 2025, is reportedly being lined up to join the Match of the Day punditry roster.

At the end of last season, new presenter Cates told Mirror Football about her admiration for the behind-the-scenes team involved in Match of the Day. The presenter has also hosted Sky Sports coverage but appeared positive when discussing her new role.

“Match of the Day is bigger than the presenters,” she said. “I think that's what I've learned, that all the people who work behind the scenes to kind of keep everything on it, they're the people who make the programme what it is.

“Viewers really watch for the football. They're not watching for anything else. I've worked with [the Match of the Day pundits] before. There's nobody who's been brand new to me, that was really nice, but that helps me and it just helps to have some continuity.”