Lineker a 'hypocrite in the highest order' for defending Just Stop Oil

Gary Lineker is slammed as a ‘hypocrite in the highest order’ for defending Just Stop Oil protesters after eco-clowns stormed Wimbledon court and threw jigsaw pieces

• Controversial BBC Sport presenter Gary Lineker defended Just Stop Oil protests
• Eco clowns disrupted two matches at Wimbledon’s Court 18 on Wednesday
• READ MORE: All that security, for what? Just Stop Oil activists storm Wimbledon

Gary Lineker was slammed as a ‘hypocrite in the highest order’ for defending Just Stop Oil eco-clowns who caused disrupted two matches at Wimbledon this week.

The outspoken sports presenter, 62, said the attention-seeking eco warriors were ‘not going to hurt anyone’ and that he understood ‘where they’re coming from’.

Lineker is no stranger to courting controversy. Earlier this year, he caused a BBC impartiality meltdown after comparing the Government’s language on the migrant crackdown to rhetoric in 1930s Germany.

As Britain settled down to enjoy two weeks of blissfully uninterrupted tennis, two men and a woman caused chaos by storming onto Court 18 on Wednesday and throwing orange confetti and jigsaw puzzle pieces on the ground. 

They were met with boos and groans from the crowd before the eco zealots were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage.

Gary Lineker was slammed as a ‘hypocrite in the highest order’ for defending Just Stop Oil eco-clowns who caused disrupted two matches at Wimbledon this week

As Britain settled down to enjoy two weeks of blissfully uninterrupted tennis, two men and a woman caused chaos by storming onto Court 18 on Wednesday and throwing orange confetti and jigsaw puzzle pieces on the ground 

Speaking after chairing an environmental panel at Wimbledon, Lineker said: ‘I completely understand where they’re coming from. Disruptive protest is the only one that gets any publicity’

Less than a year ago, Lineker flew more than 4,000 miles to present at the Qatar World Cup

Deborah Wilde, 68, and former musician Simon Miltner-Edwards, 66, (pictured being led away by police) both invaded the Court 18 during Sho Shimabukuro’s clash with Grigor Dimitrov, bringing the game to a temporary standstill

Speaking after chairing an environmental panel at Wimbledon, Lineker said: ‘I completely understand where they’re coming from. Disruptive protest is the only one that gets any publicity.

‘I get it. I also understand why people get so upset with it, particularly in sport. It is a difficult one.

‘I think what is more important is probably our existence in the future rather than slight disruption of sporting events or other things.

‘You don’t want things to be disrupted but at the same time they will really be disrupted with climate change.

‘From what I’ve seen… splashing a bit of paint on a piece of glass where there is a painting behind, throwing jigsaw puzzles and a bit of confetti is not going to hurt anyone,’ he said.

He said he respected the protesters for ‘how they are prepared to just go to jail for a week’ and their desire to make a difference.

One protestor ran onto court 18 and interrupted the female British number one Katie Boulter’s match against Daria Saville

The man was met with boos from the crowd and was soon escorted off by security at the event

He was dragged away by security after storming the same court as two other members at Wimbledon

A Just Stop Oil protestor runs onto Court 18 and releases confetti at Wimbledon on Wednesday afternoon

Tennis fans blasted the former England footballer after his comments yesterday. 

Less than a year ago, Lineker flew more than 4,000 miles to present at the Qatar World Cup.

One social media user said: ‘Lineker is a hypocrite of the highest order. 

‘We’re sick of hearing his vomit inducing virtue signalling sanctimonious and supercilious claptrap.’

Another said: ‘This man is a disgrace.’

A third added: ‘Lineker is a raging hypocrite. [He] backs Just Stop Oil but drives around in his gas guzzling, oil hungry cars and flies all over the world.’ 

Tennis fans blasted the former England footballer after his comments yesterday

READ MORE: Furious viewers brand Holly Willoughby an ‘eco-hypocrite’ for sympathising with Just Stop Oil… after taking a trip by helicopter to Glastonbury 

Speaking during Lineker’s panel, British tennis player Heather Watson, who exited this year’s tournament in the first round, said the protest was ‘uncomfortable to watch’.

The 31-year-old added: ‘I was thinking ”if I was playing on that court, I wonder how I would have felt”.

‘You don’t know what somebody is running on the court for. You fear for your safety.’

Policing minister Chris Philp backed spectators intervening in such protests on Thursday, telling Times Radio it is ‘reasonable’ for fans to attempt to ‘protect the event they’re watching’.

After the protests, Just Stop Oil told MailOnline the protests were a ‘wake up call’ and that their members targeted Wimbledon in part because of Barclays bank, which they said invested in fossil fuels.

A spokeswoman said: ‘We are not at all happy that Wimbledon is sponsored by Barclays, but that’s not the primary reason.’

She said the protests at the Championships had once again brought attention to the plight of the climate. 

She added: ‘We are getting public support for no new oil and gas.’ 

Since the Just Stop Oil campaign launched on February 14, 2022, more than 2,200 protesters have been arrested and 138 people have spent time in prison.

Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK. 

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