Gary Lineker's work on the box as well as in it should be cherished
For someone who did so much for his country, plundering goals at Mexico 86 and Italia 90, bringing brief hope and joy amidst the lengthening years of hurt, Gary Lineker was understandably shocked when accused of being a “traitor”. Lineker captained his country, played through the pain on occasion for his country, so he was surprised when his passion for his country was questioned.
The abuse flowed mainly online, and a couple of times on the streets, after the presenter of the BBC’s flagship football programme, Match of the Day, posted support for refugees. Lineker’s tweets divided opinion. They were seen by his supporters as simply his espousal of human values and berated as too “woke” by many others. Some simply felt that a high-profile figure at the national broadcaster shouldn’t be seen to be meddling in politics, that they should be neutral.
There were was a slightly patronising “stay in your” lane reaction from some towards Lineker as if he weren’t allowed views and that he shouldn’t think outside the penalty box. He wasn’t propagating them on a BBC platform but his own personal social media feed.
There was plenty of anger and also support. On one bleak Saturday evening in 2022 following controversy over a Lineker tweet, Match of the Day went ahead in shortened format with no Lineker or guests. Part of the problem for the BBC is that it is scrutinised and criticised heavily by some other sections of the media. That’s partly political but also commercial. They’re in competition. The high-profile Lineker was always going to be a target.
It's sad, in a way, as Lineker should be celebrated. We can agree or disagree over some of his tweets, and certainly occasionally the language he uses, but it should also be remembered what an outstanding striker he was, never once booked. He was always admired for his goals with Leicester City, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur and his success abroad with Barcelona, and also what an accomplished presenter he matured into. He’s had two magnificent careers, in and on the box.