Match of the Day-Gastheer Gary Lineker has “apologetic” for a re-post of social media that contained a photo of a rat that said that he “would never consciously share something anti-Semitic”.
The TV presenter, 64, was criticized after he had been illustrated about his Instagram account of the group, Palestine Lobby, with a photo of a rat entitled: “Zionism explained:” Zionism explained in two minutes. “
A statement to the PA press agency said: “On Instagram I posted the material that I have learned since, contained offensive references.
“I am very sorry about these references.
“I would never deliberately share anything anti -Semitic.
“It goes against everything I believe in.
“The post was removed as soon as I became aware of the problem.
“Although I strongly believe in the importance of speaking about humanitarian issues, including the tragedy that unfolds in Gaza, I also know that how we do that matters.
“I take full responsibility for this error.
“That image does not reflect my opinion.
“It was a mistake on my part for which I apologized about.”
Rats, coupled with disease and dirt, are used to represent in anti -Semitic propaganda through history, including the Nazis in Germany from the 1930s.
Speaking earlier on Wednesday, the director -general of the BBC said that people should follow the social media rules of the broadcaster when asked about the line with the Lineker Post.
The Lineker agent told the BBC that the presenter immediately removed the post when he heard about the symbolism of the image, which he had previously not appreciated.
Tim Davie, after having given a broad speech, talking about trust, disinformation and impartiality, it was asked whether Lineker had violated the rules of the BBC.
Speaking in the Lowry Arts Center in Salford, Davie said: “The reputation of the BBC is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us.
“And I think we absolutely need people to be the examples of BBC values and to follow our social media policy, so simple.”
Despite the apology of Lineker, the campaign against anti -semitism (CAA) called on the presenter to be fired by the company and says: “The BBC has turned a eye for too long, it is long over that he is going to go, and he has to go now.”
Lineker was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality between comments about comments he criticized the new asylum policy of the then government.
He was also one of the 500 other controversial figures who signed an open letter in February in which he encouraged the BBC to re -release a documentary, Gaza: How to Survive A War Zone, to BBC IPLayer.
Last November Lineker announced that he would resign from presenting the competition of the day at the end of the season, but will still organize World Cup and FA Cup cover.
He is the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, makers of the popular The rest is History Series and his spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money.
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