In a few hours time, MOTD is due to be broadcast without it’s normal cast of players (ex) in one of the most farcical situations involving two national institutions – our world renowned national broadcaster & our leading football pundit.
Both parties have been supremely stupid by digging themselves into holes that, like all decent holes are now going to be very difficult to get out of.
Like many people, Lineker is appalled by the latest plans of the UK govt on how best to deal with asylum seekers who are determined to enter the UK by any possible means. Everyone who has looked at these plans know them to be completely unworkable and even if there to come into fruition would have an an absolutely miniscule effect.
However, Lineker instead of using rational argument to support his abhorrence of these plans decided instead to go go for a cheap emotional shot by likening the government to that of the pre WWII Nazis & Adolph Hitler rather than expressing his outrage using contemporary language. During the course of today I have heard a good number of people who abhor the way the migrants are due to be treated but are also profoundly upset by having it linked to events many years ago.
As the day unfolded Lineker made another naive blunder. The spotlight of the media was on him and he had an invaluable chance to make a powerful statement against govt policy – two bites at the cherry as it were. It turned out that all the BBC wanted was some kind of apology and all Lineker had to say was how horrific the policy is but maybe in hindsight he realise some people were upset by what he originally said and he regretted that.
That would have been enough to ensure both parties saved face and Lineker was left firmly in command of the moral high ground.
But no, in a demonstration of his naivety he missed a second chance to wound the govt and ridicule the policy and forced himself and the BBC ever deeper into their holes.
There are even more powerful reasons to call out Lineker’s behaviour. He is not a BBC employee for one good reason, the amount he is paid for his services would be completely out of proportion to the salaries paid to the people he works with who are BBC employees. In a very powerful show of support, these BBC employees have said they will not carry out their duties without Gary in the driving seat.
As mere employees this decision to withdraw their labour in support of Lineker may have long term damaging effects on their careers at the BBC.
In the sort of world that I want to live in, Lineker should have made every effort to protect these colleagues and not expose them to possible harm. He is sitting pretty at the top of the pile and all that was needed was again a cleverly thought out form of words saying that maybe he had not used the most appropriate words.
Maybe a clever form of words is not within the grasp of our Gary ..