The BBC has been blamed for enabling Gary Lineker to share what staff described as a “frightening” social media post.
The corporation is facing mounting pressure to sack the Match of the Day presenter – who has apologised “unreservedly” – after he posted an image considered to be an antisemitic slur.
Some Jewish staff rounded on the BBC, questioning why bosses had not acted to rein in Lineker’s social media usage in the past or his comments that publicly “trash” the corporation.
Lineker came under fire after he shared, then deleted, a post on his Instagram account from the group, Palestine Lobby, which was illustrated with a picture of a rat and titled: “Zionism explained in two minutes.”
square MEDIA AnalysisWhy the BBC won't fire Lineker despite his most controversial Instagram post yet
Read More
Rats, linked to disease and dirt, have been used to represent Jews in antisemitic propaganda throughout history, including by the Nazis in 1930s Germany.
Lineker’s agent said the presenter immediately deleted the post when he learned about the image’s symbolism, which he had previously not appreciated.
Lineker said: “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 antisemitic. It goes against everything I believe in.”
He added: “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.”
Earlier BBC boss Tim Davie expressed frustration with Lineker’s latest controversial intervention, which overshadowed a major speech on trust and impartiality delivered by the Director-General in Salford.
Asked if Lineker had broken the rules, Davie said: “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.”
The BBC has yet to indicate if it will take further action against Lineker.
One BBC staffer told The i Paper: “The use of the rat emoji referring to Zionists (ie Jews) by a high-profile colleague is frightening.
“The Nazis used rats in their propaganda videos against Jews, depicting Jews as rats spreading diseases and plagues. The BBC also has anti-racism policies in place in the workplace, so why is it ok for this to be posted?”
Another staffer asked why the BBC had given Lineker more freedom to share his views after he was temporarily taken off air in 2023 over his criticisms of the Tory Government’s immigration policy.
The person said: “By not acting then, the bosses enabled and emboldened Lineker, allowing him to help rewrite the social media rules and publicly trash the BBC during interviews with the BBC, all the while still cashing his massive paychecks.
“So it’s no wonder then that he can now invoke a 1930s Nazi Germany trope with complete impunity.”
Last month, the BBC was questioned by staffers for giving Lineker a “prime-time platform to embarrass the BBC”. Speaking to Today presenter Amol Rajan in a BBC Two special, Lineker accused his bosses of “capitulating” to pro-Israel campaigners.
‘He must go’
The charity Campaign Against Antisemitism said it would be submitting a complaint to the BBC over the presenter’s latest post.
A spokesperson said: “Not only does this video deliberately misrepresent Zionism – the belief that Jews have the same right to self-determination as everyone else – but it adds a rat emoji in doing so.”
They added: “We will be submitting a complaint to the BBC over this latest post. Having looked the other way until now, at this point, it is clear that Mr Lineker’s continued association with the BBC is untenable. He must go.”
Last November Lineker announced he would be stepping down from presenting Match Of The Day. But he will still host the 2026 World Cup and FA Cup coverage after the BBC gave him a one-year contract extension.
The BBC declined to comment on whether Lineker had contravened its anti-racism policies or would face any investigation. A spokesperson pointed to Davie’s comments in Salford.
A spokesperson for Lineker 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.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Staff blame BBC for ‘enabling Lineker’ as anger over Zionism post grows )
Also on site :
- What to Know About Mohammad Sinwar, the Hamas Leader Targeted by Israel
- President Trump meets with Syrian leader in Saudi Arabia
- Justin Bieber's Unsettling Filtered Videos on 'Gucci,' Alaska & Faith Escalate Well-Being Concerns