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.

He's a football pundit. Should have stuck to that and kept his trap shut. Sick of these people getting involved in stupidity and thinking they're political activists.

He’s famous and high profile for having played football and chatted about it on the telly for many years. He’s not an expert in any other realm but like the rest of us will have an opinion. He may not voice it as well as some but I think he should be free to.

He's free to now anyway.
I would be glad to leave the cesspit which covered up Huw Edwards and his like.

Yes I do really. I think we should be free to speak but obviously there are consequences. (Eg your employer could sack you?).

Who do you think should be allowed to express their opinions then? Will there be an exam and a background check?

gross

Compare with what Danny Baker said about Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. He was reported.

History will also not look kindly on the actions of hamas and the way they are hiding behind the innocents of gaza.

They are equally responsible and strangling babies and children is the act of evil beyond comprehension

Ok, so it’s right for the BBC to sack him then?

I wouldn’t want to responsible for any bodies death or mutilation, let alone thousands upon thousands of children and civilians. How is it better to say “it’s their fault too”?

Good points, @Karmakamelion . Perhaps the addition of "Free the Hostages" and/or "Free Palestine from Hamas" would be good slogans to incorporate?
No-one will do that, though.

He’s on the right side of history.

Oh I always thought the left staked a greater claim to him.

Speak up and stand for people's rights, absolutely. Posting antisemitic tropes is not doing that.

The bloke had an axe to grind - over Brexit, over the Tories, over Israel.

We know which side of the debate he was on.

Spin it all you like.

And we come full circle to how common is the knowledge that the “rat” being anti semite and did he intend that message or just the message that being silent in the face of evil is complicit.

Ok..would you be happy with hamas being portrayed as rats complete with facemasks and green headbands? What about adding a keffiyeh? When is it acceptable to characterise people as rats?

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.

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

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

Interesting.

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.

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 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.

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.

👍

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