Gary Lineker hits back after being branded ‘virtue-signalling world champion’

Gary Lineker talks about his experience of hosting refugees

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has received a human rights award, while calling for people to show more “compassion, empathy and kindness” towards refugees.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain last week, Gary told ITV viewers about collecting the “Sport and Human Rights” award from Amnesty International in Rome.

However, not everyone was impressed, with one Twitter user swiping: “The only award deserved by @GaryLineker is ‘Virtue-Signalling World Champion’.”

It wasn’t long before Gary snapped back, replying: “Your bitterness makes it even sweeter”

Gary, 62, sent the BBC into meltdown earlier this year when he shared a tweet comparing the language used to launch the government’s asylum seeker policy with that used in 1930s Germany.

The tweet led to the former England striker being suspended from the BBC.

Several high-profile stars sided with Gary, staging an unprecedented BBC Sport walkout to support him. Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Jermaine Jenas, and Alex Scott were amongst those who stood by the star.

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And it’s not just celebrities who have praised and defended Gary in recent months.

Twitter users flooded the star with support after the dig from the GMB viewer, with one user saying: “Imagine being this upset because a bloke likes being good to people.”

And another tweeted: “What you ever achieved in life. Oh apart from that cheap award of sitting in sofa and being envious award of those that not achieved anything. Way to go.” (sic)

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Gary received the award for his strong commitment towards immigration and human rights issues.

He famously opened up his home to two refugees. The first was Rasheed from Balochistan in Pakistan in 2020, who stayed with the football legend for 20 days while studying a law course.

And then in 2021, he took a 26-year-old man who was caught up in a military coup in Turkey before fleeing to the UK.

He said during his interview with Susanna Reid, 52, and Richard Madeley, 67, that he was first inspired to take in refugees as every time he would tweet about the refugee crisis, he would receive responses saying, “why don’t you take them into your house then?”

Gary Lineker can be found hosting Sitting on a Fortune every Sunday night at 6.30pm.

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