NFR Gary Lineker

[Dodgin]

Claims that Lineker is leaving BBC.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14725297/Gary-Lineker-quit-BBC-antisemitic-rat-World-Cup.html

[MikeTheCubed]

Lineker is a skilled illusionist. The government (current or former regime) can say "we will do X" (despite having no intention of doing X), and then Lineker will feign outrage about them doing X, thereby sewing the illusion that they would in fact do X.

[bobbo]

I'm no major fan of Gary but there's no denying he does a good job on MOTD . It seems that people in positions like him are not allowed opinions .

[Fulham Tup North]

It seems that people in positions like him are not allowed opinions .

Well, not anti-Semitic opinions anyway ... 

[Friendsoffulham]

Please keep this thread political free

[H4usuallysitting]

Having met him a few time's... he's a genuinely nice chap

[Surlyc]

Lineker was warned about his Twitter activity. Lineker ignored the warning. Lineker has lost his job.

I don't really care about the politics of this (and I'll keep them out anyway, as per our admin instruction!) - Lineker is choosing his personal freedoms over his BBC job. He's well within his rights to choose this path, but I don't think the BBC has to keep tolerating this either.

In summary, this was inevitable and probably not a bad thing for either party to just move on.

[Rupert]

Regarding Mr Lineker, the problem is, thanks to his BBC job he can be quite an influential person, and by posting his views on social media he spreads that influence. As he is associated with the BBC, who are supposed to be neutral (and in comparison to the mass media circus in the USA, they really are very neutral), this is not something they can be associated with. By cutting that link, Mr Lineker can post what he likes.

His argument that he was unaware that what he was posting had historical links with anti-Semitism does ring true, but that is the problem here. He might have been ignorant, but others would be perfectly well aware of the connection and happily embraced him as one of their supporters. I think a lot of media outlets are still only just waking up to the inherent dangers posed by social media, and its ability to influence people who are easily influenced.

As Churchill is supposed to have remarked, "The best argument against Democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter." People can have very inaccurate ideas about the true state of affairs, and social media will only exacerbate this by reinforcing such ideas as factual. On such people, extremists will prey and recruit to their cause.

[Yorkie_FFC]

Don't know him personally and don't read into the ignorance argument but either way he has definitely been overpaid for too many years. If the BBC looked at their wage bill there is £millions in savings that could be made for bringing decent journalism football or otherwise and bringing through new careers within the industry. The amount of football related podcasts both Fulham and independent that bring far superior content in terms of views and analysis is crazy and something that the BBC could learn from. 

[Angus Telford]

My general view, like others, is celebrities shouldn't use influence they've gained through things like kicking a ball around to opine on political issues that are actually complex matters of economics and such like. Working for the BBC, there's the added need to respect its impartiality on domestic politics. The thing that disapppints (and confuses) me here is that, allowing for the mistake which he immediately corrected, the stuff he's been speaking about lately isn't particularly complex, and not really a matter of domestic politics, in comparison to his previous controversies.

[Lighthouse]

I always thought that he was an overrated presenter. His over pally style grated at times and really did nothing for the match  we were watching. I never know why presenters or actors etc feel it is their right to offer up opinion in a World that will always find objection to what ever side one takes.

As others have said he was warned countless times but kept on wanting to make public his opinions. An ex footballer who was lucky in my opinion to last as long as he did.

[Buffalo76]

Always preferred Des Lynam.

[sarnian]

Always preferred Des Lynam.

Lynam was a great presenter, unfortunately the only thing that mattered to Lineker was him and his opinions. Good player but that's as far as it goes.

[Sammyffc]

My general view, like others, is celebrities shouldn't use influence they've gained through things like kicking a ball around to opine on political issues that are actually complex matters of economics and such like. Working for the BBC, there's the added need to respect its impartiality on domestic politics. The thing that disapppints (and confuses) me here is that, allowing for the mistake which he immediately corrected, the stuff he's been speaking about lately isn't particularly complex, and not really a matter of domestic politics, in comparison to his previous controversies.

I think it just comes down to nobody who works for a public broadcaster should be sharing their personal views on anything that is seen as political. Whether someone agrees or disagrees with anyones statement is irrelevant when they work for such an organisation.

Hence why on here we never get into politics, its just not needed.

[Steeeeeeeeeed]

He was a great player, has always been a pretty average presenter to me, certainly no Des Lynham.

I had really grown to dislike  him whenever he has Micah Richards on with him, the fake laughing and rubbish banter between them is so off putting.

Also, Gary has a terrible habit of repeatedly rubbing his nose, it drives me mad, only noticed it a few years ago, but he does it so much I am surprised others have not made a thing of it.

[H4usuallysitting]

Always preferred Des Lynam.

Met him a few time's as well

[RaySmith]

Having met him a few time's... he's a genuinely nice chap

Confirms what I thought - that he seems a decent bloke.
I've admired him making stands for his principles, even if I don't always agree with him, risking great media opprobrium, and also his job. I accept his explanation about the rat, but he was naive.

But BBC employees are supposed to be impartial.
I think his argument was that he was self-employed. Whatever, the BBC definitely don't like people expressing their own opinions, even saying they  support a certain team if they are sports' presenters. Though we know Lineker supports Leicester, his home town, and who he used to play for.

But I think he is impartial  when  presenting his programme, which I think he's good at.
His podcast on You Tube with  Alan Shearer and Mica Richards, has franker discussions, less constrained by the BBC auspices.

But, I suppose it's no surprise he's been sacked, and his many media enemies will be celebrating, but personally i wish him well.

[alfie]

Having met him a few time's... he's a genuinely nice chap

Confirms what I thought - that he seems a decent bloke.
I've admired him making stands for his principles, even if I don't always agree with him, risking great media opprobrium, and also his job. I accept his explanation about the rat, but he was naive.

But BBC employees are supposed to be impartial.
I think his argument was that he was self-employed. Whatever, the BBC definitely don't like people expressing their own opinions, even saying they  support a certain team if they are sports' presenters. Though we know Lineker supports Leicester, his home town, and who he used to play for.

But I think he is impartial  when  presenting his programme, which I think he's good at.
His podcast on You Tube with  Alan Shearer and Mica Richards, has franker discussions, less constrained by the BBC auspices.

But, I suppose it's no surprise he's been sacked, and his many media enemies will be celebrating, but personally i wish him well.

Well he bought me a beer or two, nice fella to chat with.

[Cornishnick]

As a personality I find him irritating. Bias in his presenting and more interested in himself than anything else.

BBC saw a popular footballer way back that they could turn into a presenter. Gave him all the media training and plonked him on MOTD. They've ploughed so much time and money into him and his salary now, they've sort of cut off their retreat - 'can't get rid of him, it would cost too much'.

So we were stuck with him year after year. As for his media posting I'm not sure he thinks it out beforehand, the apology this time sounds a bit false to me.

Mark Chapman in a different league when it comes to sports presenting. Much rather have him than anyone else, he's by far the best presenter on TV or radio.

[H4usuallysitting]

As a personality I find him irritating. Bias in his presenting and more interested in himself than anything else.

BBC saw a popular footballer way back that they could turn into a presenter. Gave him all the media training and plonked him on MOTD. They've ploughed so much time and money into him and his salary now, they've sort of cut off their retreat - 'can't get rid of him, it would cost too much'.

So we were stuck with him year after year. As for his media posting I'm not sure he thinks it out beforehand, the apology this time sounds a bit false to me.

Mark Chapman in a different league when it comes to sports presenting. Much rather have him than anyone else, he's by far the best presenter on TV or radio.

It's a bit like art....