Gary Lineker - he really had to go and a warning t against virtue signalling

The same individuals outraged by Gary Lineker are often the ones indifferent to the mass killing of tens of thousands of children. Instead of showing genuine concern, they go to great lengths to justify Israel’s actions and deflect attention. They can spare me the performative moral outrage.

You're right. I don't think he understands it at all. It's just for the clicks and - I suspect - to keep in the good books of certain regimes.

Right. So, how would you tackle an antisemitic, homophobic, misogynist, nihilistic, fascist group who would rape and kill and take hostages, even babies?

Hamas is a terrorist group. The IDF isn’t. They have-or should have-different standards.

He’s just another over opinionated old bloke that thinks because he is on tv he can spout off about everything.
I don’t actually think he is antisemitic; but obviously doesn’t know enough to understand the rat symbolism.
Im glad he’s lost his job, might be a warning to other people who talk about things they don’t know enough about.

You're right, @EsmaCannonball . Plus, men like that like to stay on the right side of countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, don't they, for the opportunities. It would be a brave person in the football industry to speak out against them.

If the IDF had been hiding weapons or troops in bunkers under the music festival, ready for an attack on Gaza, people would 100% be calling the Hamas attack self-defence.

It’s really telling when a person never has an opinion that slightly surprises you. I think it’s a sign that they don’t think much for themselves and they tend to regurgitate what they see on SM or hear from their close circle. If GL came out with an opinion that was not mainstream leftist we could perhaps have faith in his ability to think and judge for himself. Maybe he’ll come out pro nuclear power or against critical race theory and I’ll be proved wrong.

He shouldn't have said that. Also, people
shouldn’t describe bombing hospitals as “self defence”

Lineker isn't knowingly antisemitic or misogynistic; his posts on October 7th or on men in women's sports show that Jewish people and women are so insignificant they aren't even on his radar. There is no money or kudos in being pro-Jewish or pro-women (in fact, the opposite) so men like Gary don't waste any time thinking about them. It really is as shallow as cost-benefit activism.

Lineker won't apologise for his use of antisemite symbols, of course, he's a powerful and arrogant narcissist who's been further enabled by the BBC and the football establishment.

But I do expect the BBC to apologise, but of course they won't either - first multiple occurrences of CSA, starting with Savile, and now antisemitism. Auntie Beeb is really serving licence fee payers, isn't it?

This.

7/10

You can defend him to the end by saying he didn’t know. No racist ever says “yeah hands up I am a racist twat”. They always plead ignorance, say they didn’t mean it, claim that what they did was justified etc. All you have to go on are his words and actions over the years, which have consistently been at or over the line.

It’s important because there are anti-semites in the pro-Palestine movement. You can’t just say that it’s a side issue and what really matters is the pro-Palestine message, because the conflict will never be solved if anti-semites continue to have a seat at the table.

I think the vast majority of people I know where very vocal about the horror and distress they felt about the attack on 7/11. I don’t know where you are in the world but in the uk it was publicised and discussed.

As is being silent in the face of Hamas' evil

He is clearly very ignorant. He really ought to inform himself... from proper sources of information. Not placards, memes or sm posts.

👍

The likes of Gary Lineker and Jolyon Maugham are aware that some rights are a pie and that, as the world becomes more diverse and inclusive, there will be fewer slices available for people like them. How to be one of the rich, straight white men who survive the rationing? Well, you become one of the most fervent, intolerant acolytes of the vicious new orthodoxies.

Gary also needs to read some books - read widely, rather than getting all his views from dubious two-minute activist propaganda videos. He's one of those infuriating people who think of themselves as a moral beacon but who are actually ignorant of just how ignorant they are.

I don't know what your game is. I've agreed with most of what you've written up thread. Why derail the thread, and why try to demonise me? I thought the fact that Putin is an evil dictator stands without me needing to restate it.

I wouldn’t portray anyone as a rat, or a cockroach for that matter. Better to use your words, but I DO think saying nothing is not a neutral act.

I agree I didn't think it was exclusively antisemitic. To dehumanise humans with animal imagery has been pretty common throughout history.
That aside he didn't realise - he states - that the rat emoji was on the post.
I think it's unfortunate that this has happened. He has played into the hands of those who dislike him - if unwittingly. And it gives people the chance to label him as an anti-Semite to suit their purpose.

‘Dangerous’, but not ‘evil’, then. And nor does he invoke the same feelings of nausea as does Netanyahu.

Interesting.

You may. I loathe Putin and think he is very dangerous, firstly to Eastern Europe and then to the rest of the world.

He was accused of antisemitism previously he probably should have had.a.good look at himself to make sure he didn't continue to make "mistakes".

I object to a licence fee as it is without the sexual assaults and coverups, antisemitism, racism and Islamaphobia being normalised by the BBC. Oh sorry we didn't know that does not cut it in 2025. Pretty sure considering your source was a very early lesson in High School and mine was shit.