Gary Lineker - man of integrity

Smileless2012

Well I wouldn't MayBee and I don't have a personal grudge against him either.

Me neither? Why would I have a personal grudge?

Banksy uses rats in his work. As did Blek le Rat. I didn’t know rats were used in an anti semitic way. Gary Lineker didn’t know either. As for what’s happening in Gaza not being genocide officially. I know how I think history will look back on it.

Whitewavemark2

The more I read the more I know my comment re integrity is correct.

Lineker has made mistakes - who hasn’t? But I am so heartened to hear him speak up against the genocide.

At the very least he has brought attention to the disaster, and perhaps has made some people focus their mind on why and whether they agree with him.

So your saying we wouldn’t have known about the disaster if the sainted Garry hadn’t pointed it out to us.

Quote MayBee70 Mon 19-May-25 18:08:25
Banksy uses rats in his work. As did Blek le Rat. I didn’t know rats were used in an anti semitic way. Gary Lineker didn’t know either. As for what’s happening in Gaza not being genocide officially. I know how I think history will look back on it.

Was Banksy speaking of Jews and you say Lineker didn’t know
the history of rats when attacking Jews , he had to say he didn’t
know

I believe him.

I didn't know a rat was used to be antisemitic.
Rat was used in the wars to describe a deserter.
Roland Rat was a much loved children's toy a in the 1970s/80s. Was he antisemitic.
I don't know much about Linekar but I can see how it could have been a
mistake.

I have heard people say he is one of the nastiest, rude celebrities about. Apparently he was absolutely foul when people were sending support and good wishes for his young son who had been diagnosed with leukaemia.

MayBee70

Banksy uses rats in his work. As did Blek le Rat. I didn’t know rats were used in an anti semitic way. Gary Lineker didn’t know either. As for what’s happening in Gaza not being genocide officially. I know how I think history will look back on it.

Totally agree. There will come a time when people will be called to account.

Horrible man!

Why use a rat when speaking of Jews ?

Whitewavemark2

The more I read the more I know my comment re integrity is correct.

Lineker has made mistakes - who hasn’t? But I am so heartened to hear him speak up against the genocide.

At the very least he has brought attention to the disaster, and perhaps has made some people focus their mind on why and whether they agree with him.

😆It’s only correct for you

MayBee70

I believe him.

Ah, how very kind of you
This matter is just the straw that broke the camels back for the Beeb tho with him.It’s his arrogance that undid him.

He hasn't made me think about Israel or Gaza, he has made me think about him. To be fair under no circumstances would Lineker make me examine my views on any issue.
What I will say whilst I hold a particular view on him i am not keen on people being sacked for a tweet, but that would apply equally to Gary Lineker and say someone like Danny Baker. Sacking people for tweets is not my thing but I do understand the BBC do think differently to me!

I used to give him the benefit of many doubts, but no longer.
The interview in the Telegraph last week was the final straw for me.

He is totally lacking in any thought about peoples lives, or how we live. His only source of knowledge is in discussions of, or about football.
I am glad he is going. I suggest that he should further his education in current affairs, politics, equal rights with access to fair play for women for a start, while he ponders his future.

The BBC is his employer and he was warned on at least two previous occasions about expressing his opinions publicly, as a high profile presenter. This is the third time he has disobeyed them; now of course he claims to be sorry, but I have no doubt he has another equally well-paid job lined up elsewhere, and will probably try to sue for unfair dismissal.

He resigned, easybee, he quitted, so no pay off or legal action as you suggest.

Not dismissed. It's in the Telegraph as such.

The BBC will have given him the opportunity to ‘resign’.

An agreement, if he hadn’t said he would leave it would have been dismissal

Bukkie

I have heard people say he is one of the nastiest, rude celebrities about. Apparently he was absolutely foul when people were sending support and good wishes for his young son who had been diagnosed with leukaemia.

I have heard
Apparently

So you don't real,y know.

AGAA4

I didn't know a rat was used to be antisemitic.
Rat was used in the wars to describe a deserter.
Roland Rat was a much loved children's toy a in the 1970s/80s. Was he antisemitic.
I don't know much about Linekar but I can see how it could have been a
mistake.

I didn't know either. It's a new one to me.

I always quite liked Gary Lineker but thought, as someone receiving a very large salary from licence payers, he should keep his opinions to himself.

Several newspapers (Telegraph, Sky, Guardian) are carrying this video where Gary Lineker announces he is going - I'll give you the accessible one.

www.theguardian.com/football/2025/may/19/gary-lineker-to-leave-the-bbc-next-week-after-antisemitism-row

I definitely believe he did not see or recognise the significance of the emoji. I also think that his gradually increasing interests on speaking up on a number of issues, beyond those mentioned upthread does preclude him leaving the role he has had with the BBC, although the BBC guidelines only relate to employees fronting News and Politics programmes.

Years ago DH was at a corporate day and GL was there.He said appeared was arrogant and off hand and yes anyone can have an off day but tbh since then I haven't particularly wanted to listen to him.And working for the BBC such a huge salary he should have stopped being so outspoken.He's made a fortune and will no doubt continue to do so I don't have any sympathy for him.

Allira- No I admit I don't really know but plenty of people I know have met him and all of them have said he is horrible.

I can’t believe that so many of you educated people have never seen or heard about the nazi propaganda film Eternal Jew depicting Jews as vermin.

I include Lineker as he was a grammar school boy and further played for Spurs, deemed a team well supported by the Jewish community.

* Wyllow* the papers print what he told them, I very much doubt there had been no contact with the BBC,
when it first hit the news the BBC said their relationship was
untenable
Why would he have a rat with his views on Jews ? what was his
thinking ?