Gary Lineker apologises and insists he would 'never knowingly share anything anti-Semitic' after reposting pro-Palestine video featuring anti-Jewish rat slur
The BBC Match Of The Day presenter and ex-England captain reposted to his 1.2million Instagram followers a clip featuring an emoji of a rat - prompting condemnation from Jewish groups and calls for him to be axed by the broadcaster.
Lineker, 64, later deleted the footage from his 'Stories' reel on the social media site yesterday afternoon - and a spokesman for the former footballer has now offered an explanation on his behalf.
He claimed ignorance of a notorious anti-Semitic slur about rats when he shared a pro-Palestine video including the smear.
However, speaking today, the retired sports star 'apologised unreservedly' for the post, saying: 'I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views.'
In a statement, the Match of the Day host added: 'On Instagram I reposted material which I have since learned contained offensive references.
'I very much regret these references. I would never knowingly share anything anti-Semitic. It goes against everything I believe in.
'The post was removed as soon as I became aware of the issue.
Lineker had shared on Instagram a reel originating with pro-Palestine group Palestine Lobby
'Whilst I strongly believe in the importance of speaking out on humanitarian issues, including the tragedy unfolding in Gaza, I also know that how we do so matters.
'I take full responsibility for this mistake. That image does not reflect my views.
'It was an error on my part for which I apologise unreservedly.'
The apology comes after charity campaigners accused Lineker of 'aloofness and reckless indifference' in his response and stepped up calls for the BBC to part ways with him.
The former Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona and Three Lions star has been a vocal opponent of Israeli 's military action in Gaza, but critics say his latest intervention went too far.
Images of rats and other vermin were regularly used as tropes by Nazi Germany to depict Jewish people, as many people have been pointing out in response.
Lineker previously insisted he was unaware of the symbolism while also failing to notice the rat image was shown in the Palestine Lobby clip - attacking the concept of Zionism - that he shared online.
A spokesman for the BBC's highest paid presenter told how Lineker immediately deleted the video after learning of the picture's historic connotations.
Lineker's representative said: 'Whilst viewing and reposting a video, Gary did not notice a rodent emoticon added by the author of the post.
'Although if he had, he would not have made any connection. The repost has been removed.'
Disgusted users on X widely shared Lineker's earlier post on the social media platform, formerly known as Twitter - and a former BBC Director of Television demanded action from the corporation over what he branded 'utterly grim' content.
Screenshots of Lineker's shared video were immediately flagged as posts which 'may violate X's rules against Hateful Conduct'.
Jewish groups have been among those condemning his post and calling for the BBC to cut ties with him, with charity Campaign Against Antisemitism posting on X: 'Nothing to see here.
'Just Gary Lineker's Instagram account sharing an anti-Israel video misrepresenting Zionism, complete with a rat emoji.'
Responding to comments from Lineker's spokesman, a CAA official told MailOnline: 'Gary Lineker is playing the public for fools by pretending to be one.
'He claims to want to spread awareness about events in the Middle East but also claims to be so ignorant as to be unaware of the dehumanising connotations of a rat symbol.
'He acts like an accessible man of the people, but when caught out issues feeble excuses through a spokesperson like a shady politician.
'Such aloofness and reckless indifference would be appalling from any public figure, but Mr Lineker is the BBC's number one star, and has built himself a media empire that gives him immense influence.
'That comes with a responsibility that Mr Lineker has repeatedly refused to bear.
'The BBC has turned a blind eye for too long. It is long past time for him to go, and he must go now.'
Danny Cohen, a former Director of BBC Television, had yesterday said: 'Gary Lineker appears to have shared content about the Jewish State which echoes Nazi propaganda. This is utterly grim.
'The BBC's Director General Tim Davie has a simple question to answer: does he tolerate the BBC's flagship presenters sharing content that has historically been used as an anti-Semitic slur?'
A group of BBC figures, speaking anonymously to the Telegraph via a third party, said the corporation's failure to fire Lineker had been 'deeply upsetting to its Jewish staff'.
One Jewish staffer, who previously told the paper that anti-Semitism had been 'normalised' at the broadcast giant, said: 'It is quite simply disgusting that the BBC has not kicked Lineker out. His repeated offensiveness to Jewish people has clearly brought the BBC into disrepute.'
Responding to the growing firestorm surrounding Lineker, Tim Davie, the BBC's director general, said people had to follow the broadcaster's social media rules, adding mistakes like Lineker's 'costs us'.
Replying to a question at The Lowry arts centre in Salford about Lineker's latest blunder, Davie added: 'The BBC's reputation is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us.
'And I think we absolutely need people to be the exemplars of BBC values and follow our social media policies, simple as that.'
Lineker is due to step down as Match Of The Day presenter at the end of this season but will present BBC coverage of next year's World Cup.
Lineker was also criticised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who said he had 'caused great offence with this video – particularly with his egregious use of a rat emoji to illustrate Zionists'.
After being contacted by MailOnline for a response to the criticisms, the BBC responded by highlighting the corporation's 'Editorial Guidelines' document, posted online.
This covers employees' 'Personal Use of Social Media, which had been updated in 2023 - suggesting he was not deemed to have broken the rules.
Lineker himself said in February last year at a Broadcasting Press Guild event: 'I know the guidelines really well. I was partly involved in drawing them up.
'I know the guidelines inside out. Obviously the new guidelines actually now allow you much more freedom to tweet. We're allowed opinions and other stuff.'
Criticism online for Lineker has been continuing today, including for his spokesman's statement about his deletion of the post.
Attention was also drawn to previous comments he made in 2023 in response to then-Conservative Home Secretary Suella Braverman announcing details of her new Illegal Migration Bill.
Lineker had shared video of her speech while adding the comment: 'Good heavens, this is beyond awful.'
He then used his Twitter account, with 8.6million followers, to describe the proposed measures to tackle migration as 'immeasurably cruel'.
Lineker shared the Palestine Lobby video in his 'Stories' selection of reels on Instagram
When another user accused him of being 'out of order', Lineker replied: 'There is no huge influx. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.
'This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s, and I'm out of order?'
That comparison has now been highlighted by critics of his new Instagram post, with Simon Myerson KC, who chairs the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, posting on X: 'Way back in 2023 was bothered about the language used by Nazis towards Jews.
'Today, he doesn't know anything about that language, which is how he excuses posting antisemitic articles. Poor bloke - he's younger than me but his memory's failing. Time to retire.'
Barrister Simon Barrett commented: 'Gary Lineker's defence is that he is inattentive and badly informed. Fine. But those are not qualities to have in a professional commentator. Sack him.'
Lineker, who scored 48 goals in 80 England appearances before presenting Match Of The Day since 1999, has previously faced controversy for his political interventions which critics claim are breaches of the BBC's impartiality rules.
The most recent BBC accounts show he was the corporation's best paid presenter for the seventh successive year, receiving up to £1.35million in 2023-2024.
In January last year Lineker said he received threats after he retweeted and later deleted a post on social media calling for Israel to be banned from international sporting events, including football.
Later, speaking to news site Zeteo, he said: 'There is a lot of heavy lobbying on people to be quiet so I understand why most people refrain but I'm getting on a bit now, I'm fairly secure and I can't be silent about what's happening.
'I think it's just so, so utterly awful and now they're talking about, 'Oh, it looks like it's happening, going into Rafah', where they've sent everybody down there.
'So I don't see how you can be - it's not antisemitic to say that what Israel is doing is wrong. I just can't see how everybody doesn't see it that way now.
'But whatever the cause, whatever started it - we all know that the history of this area of the world goes way before October 7.
'But it's truly dreadful what's happening. And I cry on a regular basis when I see certain images on social media.'
Lineker also told the Broadcasting Press Guild event in February last year: 'We have been getting a lot more leeway now, which is a good thing. I am always sensible.'
He also claimed that he now rarely used X as it had become 'increasingly toxic'.
He told the gathering of journalists that people should step away from the platform to save their mental health.
He said: 'It's always been a bit of a cesspit but it has become increasingly toxic and you can't have nuanced conversations on there anymore and debates.
'So I have kind of stepped away from that side of things.'
He also said the BBC 'love' him being on the social media platform to 'promote their shows'.
While his Instagram post has prompted this latest controversy, his recent contributions on X have been dominated by promotions for episodes from his Goalhanger podcast firm including The Rest Is Football that he presents.
Other podcasts from the group which he promotes online include sister show The Rest Is Politics, co-hosted by former New Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.
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