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

[mids2019]

Maybe Gary Lineker's departure acts as a warning for this not acquainted with history to go around randomly reposting pro Palestinian links though I suspect he is not the only one. In a way it is a sad demise to a career but an absolutely necessary one and a timely warning that a proportion of P Palestinian supporters are anti semites.

for to say I didn't like the Gaurdian 's take that the BBC were looking to sack Gary anyway and he just have them an excuse.

Lineker made two fatal mistakes - firstly, using his media profile and platform to make political statements, and secondly, thinking that anyone gives a fuck what an aged sports commentator thinks about Middle Eastern geopolitics.

He’s about as sharp as a beach ball, and should stick to football punditry (or not).

GL is NOT ant-Semitic he’s just a normal person horrified at the genocide happening in front of us.
well done to him on a successful career and also his morals and standing up for a cause he believes in

He’s an antisemite who used the Jewish rat trope and then pretended he didn’t know. He also is happy for woman to be forced to play sports with men. The worst of the worst “progressive” bros. Wanker.

I didn't say Gary was anti Semitic but is possibly from a class of media virtue signallers who think they have a cause despite a superficial understanding of history (reading about Nazi propaganda would be a start).

I actually think he is not exactly the brightest but disingeuous .

A million times this! History will not look kindly upon those of you have supported Israel's actions. If there is any justice in this world Netanyahu and co will end up on trial for crimes against humanity. Hamas leaders too.

100% this.
GL has the courage to call a GENOCIDE A GENOCIDE.
Hope the world leaders can hang there heads in shame for allowing this to happen.

Lineker is a useful idiot for Hamas, that’s all.

The bloke is a complete mug.

Hamas leaders are already meeting justice.

At the end of a drone targeting system etc.

That works.

You can think that what the Israeli government is doing on Gaza is atrocious, but also not post vile anti Semitic links. I doubt he meant to do that but it was pretty stupid and thoughtless of him. I don't think he has the understanding of the situation enough to be some self appointed political commentator, just because he's been a successful footballer and sports commentator. He obviously can't handle it.

I used to be on his side but not any more.

The more people with a platform stand against genocide the better. God knows, the Government aren’t.

He previously referred to 7th October as "that Hamas thing".

It wasn't his views on Israel- Gaza that got him dropped, it was his use of a long used antisemitic trope in the post. It is alarming how many people think using racist cartoons towards Jewish people is ok and somehow different to doing it to any other group of people (as previous posters here have proven).
People seem to have a hard time realising there are many Jews and Israeli's very against Netanyahu and what he is doing.
Linekar was happy to be paid lots of money whilst broadcasting in Qatar where people were literally dying due to the world Cup being held there so I'm not sure he's someone with a strong moral compass as it is.

Fine to publicly condemn the israeli government for its actions (better still to also acknowledge that Hamas did a very evil thing, but he doesn't seem to have). Not at all fine to tap into a centuries old antisemitic trope. I do not believe Lineaker is stupid, and do not believe someone who cares about the middle east generally wouldn't have known about it.

I am appalled by Israel's subsequent actions and am doing my own (possibly ineffective) boycott of their goods, and purposely buying Palestinian olive oil, dates and olives as a tiny piece of action. But I am equally appalled that someone in such a position as Lineaker should have posted what he did.

I have a jewish daughter in law and well know that even before Oct 7 synagogues had security on their doors. Antisemitism is still alive and kicking and is an ugly thing.

I haven't followed his thoughts on trans women in women's sports. But I'd be disappointed if he wasn't on the side of excellent women like Sharon Davies.

@confusedaboutetiquette be prepared to be disappointed - he isn’t!

I genuinely believe that Lineker is not blessed with a significant amount of grey matter.

I also believe that his comments on Palestine are a simple attempt to burnish his credentials amongst the liberal left in the media, and his own pseudo intellectualism.

It’s telling that he repeatedly withdraws posts - he really lacks a profound understanding of what he is posting about.

This. By all means criticise Israel’s actions but antisemitism is never ok.

@Hermiaxxhe can’t be that stupid; he founded Goalhanger, and is exec producer on many of its highly lucrative podcasts. That shows he ought to have his finger on the pulse. And you have to be quick witted at the very least to host live TV. Lack of exams doesn’t equate with lack of intelligence.

my conclusion is that I’m even more disappointed that a man who is above averagely intelligent should promote any form of anti semitism.

@confusedaboutetiquette indeed it's not even his first go at it you'd think he'd learn from his mistakes.

Criticism of the Israeli government is obviously fine, posting links to caricatures of Jewish people is not (I think this has been so normalised during, history it's accepted by many) antisemitic tropes are well bedded in society and so normalised.

Calling out a genocide whilst calling the slaughter of over 1000 Jewish people "that Hamas thing" is more than tone deaf imo. It may well be a genocide but what happened on 7 October one of the worst terror attacks ever is not a "thing" it's a tragedy.

I don't know why it is so hard for people not to comment on social media if it will effect your job.

Virtue signalling?

Lineker is just a man who is horrified by the slaughter of civilians in Gaza.

You don't have to support Hamas or be antisemitic to object to that. You just have to be a human being with basic compassion.

Good on him for having the courage to speak out.

I think what Hamas did was horrific and I have nothing against jewish people but I also think that everyone being quiet about what the state of Israel is doing in Gaza is unacceptable.

Anti-semitism was not something that resumed on October 7 2023, don't forget those in the Labour Party who were appeased when Jeremy Corbyn was leader.

By using a post with a rat?

If nobody cares, why does it matter? You're contradicting yourself.

@LlynTegidi think I made that point. Centuries old. Security at synagogues (and schools) even before Oct 7. I know my history and have doubled down on the history of antisemitism since my son got married. Forgive me if I miss some aspects. I know full well it’s exhausting. And depressing

See ya’ Gary, ciao.

Now you can really take off the gloves. Perhaps do some humanitarian work in Gaza? Get a Guardian column? Join Al Jazeera.

The possibilities are endless...