Gary Lineker sparks fresh fury for endorsing Owen Jones video
Gary Lineker says it’s ‘important’ he uses his platform
Gary Lineker has come under fire after endorsing a video by Owen Jones in which an academic accuses Israel of “textbook genocide”.
The Match of the Day presenter shared a post on social media platform X by the left-wing activist of him interviewing Israeli historian Raz Segal.
Lineker, who previously called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, said: “Worth 13 minutes of anyone’s time.”
But the football pundit, who is known for speaking out on politics on social media, sparked fury from some with his intervention.
Jewish Chronicle editor-at-large Stephen Pollard accused Lineker of “universe-bending ignorance”.
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Tory MP Jonathan Gullis said: “Gary any chance you can finally comment on the vile antisemitism that we’ve seen on the streets of the UK?
“Any condemnation of the scum who desecrated a war memorial with graffiti?
“Do you agree with your mate Owen that the British Empire is to blame for LGBT discrimination in Gaza, or do you point the finger at Hamas?
“Just asking as you are such a colossus on international relations and global conflict.”
Conservative MP Greg Smith added: “It is inconceivable any right-minded person would give that video the time of day.”
In the 13-minute video, the associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Stockton University condemns Israel’s response to the terror attacks by Hamas on October 7.
Prof Segal said: “I do think that what we’re seeing in front of our eyes is a textbook case of genocide.”
It comes after Lineker earlier this month backed a controversial pro-Palestine protest taking place in London on Remembrance Day.
Then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman blasted the rally as a “hate march” in a post on X.
But the former England striker said: “Marching and calling for a ceasefire and peace so that more innocent children don’t get killed is not really the definition of a hate march.”
Lineker was at the centre of a BBC impartiality row in March after he took to social media to slam the Government’s illegal immigration crackdown and compare language used to that of Nazi Germany.
New social media rules by the corporation in the wake of the furore allow high-profile presenters outside of news and current affairs to express personal views on issues but they must stop short of political campaigning.
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