Entertainment
Children deliver letters to Gary Lineker’s home thanking him for refugees stance as impartiality row rumbles on-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
Lineker has previously taken refugees into his home.
Gary Lineker has the support of many following his ‘stepping back’ from Match Of The Day (Picture: PA)
Children have delivered letters to Gary Lineker’s home, with one expressing support for his stance on refugees.
It was confirmed on Friday (March 10) that the footballer-turned-pundit, 62, would ‘step back’ from presenting Match of the Day ‘until an agreement is reached on his social media use’.
The controversial decision from the BBC came after Lineker compared the UK government’s language around migrants to the language used in 1930s Germany, on his personal Twitter account, leading to a row with over impartiality.
There’s no denying that he’s had the backing of the people, after a plethora of presenters and pundits have now refused to appear on the BBC show in solidarity.
Ian Wright even threatened to leave the BBC should Lineker be sacked, with the network later confirming Saturday’s MOTD would ‘focus on match action without presentation or punditry.’
But it’s not just TV stars fighting Lineker’s corner, as little ones are also keen to send him messages.
The pundit will not appear on Saturday’s show, which will go ahead without presentations (Picture: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Two boys posted letters through the former England footballer’s door in front of a pack of reporters and photographers awaiting comment.
Tristan, eight, who did not want to give his surname, turned up with his mother with a letter which said ‘thank you so much’ to the star.
His mother said: ‘My son said, “Thank you so much. Thank you for defending the refugees”.’
Another boy could later be seen delivering a letter but his parents stayed in the car so reporters did not speak to him.
Lineker has previously taken refugees into his home, including a 26-year-old man from Turkey who was caught up in a military coup and escaped 18 months of imprisonment.
Last October, Lineker said the man endured ‘hell’ in the UK’s asylum system.
Ian Wright is one of the many standing in solidarity with Lineker, threatening to quit the BBC if he is sacked (Picture: PA)
Lineker says the Beeb asked him to step back, and it wasn’t his own decision (Picture: BBC)
He previously offered his Surrey home to a refugee from the Balochistan province of Pakistan.
The Linekers received a Pret delivery early on Saturday morning and one of his sons told reporters his father had not yet woken up.
Meanwhile, the response of locals in Barnes, south-west London, to the presence of reporters has been mixed.
Some locals said ‘leave him alone’ while others were more positive – but none expressed views on the BBC controversy.
Some people could be seen pointing at the pack of reporters and photographers from a nearby road and park.
The former footie player compared the government’s immigration policy to language used in 1930s Germany (Picture: BBC/Pete Dadds)
Lineker left his home late on Saturday morning and appeared all smiles, but did not answer questions.
His son Harry later said he had gone to watch the Leicester City match.
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On Thursday, before he was told to step back from Match Of The Day, Lineker was more bullish, saying ‘no’ when asked if he feared suspension over his tweets.
He’s yet to speak out on his feelings about the Beeb’s actions, but did confirm to friend and broadcaster Dan Walker that he was ‘asked’ to step back from MOTD, clarifying that it was not of his own accord.
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