Does Gary Lineker deserve Amnesty’s human rights award?

‘We need to be careful with the language we use,’ said Gary Lineker as he picked up an award from Amnesty International in Rome for his ‘strong commitment towards immigration and human rights issues’. It was an interesting line to take, given it was Lineker’s intemperate tweeting – particularly his referencing of 1930s Germany in relation to language used by Home Secretary Suella Braverman – that boosted his social justice warrior profile and probably helped win him the award.

Having collected his gong, Lineker claimed in a waffly interview with Channel 4 to be a believer in freedom of speech. ‘But,’ the Match of the Day host said, ‘in my experience of freedom of speech, particularly the people who campaign for freedom of speech, they’re all for it until they disagree with what you’re saying’.

Is Lineker oblivious to the special nature of working at the BBC, which surely obliges a certain discretion and neutrality on its presenters, even those who may, or may not be, contractually exempt? And one wonders how free those of his colleagues who didn’t support him in March (there were reports of significant dissent) felt when the highest-profile and best-paid stars were striking in solidarity with Lineker, and others felt compelled to follow suit.

Lineker claims to have been ‘surprised’ by the reaction to his tweets. This is surely twaddle. A man of his public profile, with almost nine million Twitter followers, must be aware that his every utterance has the potential to create headlines – not least one that uses such a loaded historical reference point as 1930s Germany. Come off it, Gary.  

Lineker’s professed compassion for migrants will win him much support. But what about those in the UK, who are displaced, disadvantaged, or just disorientated by the dizzying levels of new arrivals to their towns and cities? Does the compassion extend to them?

Rumours are swirling that Lineker may be coming to the end of his stint on Match of the Day. If so, what’s left for Lineker? Another network perhaps? His age and sex are arguably against him lasting much longer in front of the camera in the ever more right-on world of TV. Perhaps, then, a global ambassador role, a juicy sinecure on the ‘raising awareness’ circuit? Rome may have been the start. La Dolce Vita.

The answer may be simpler. A comment Lineker made on his jaunt to Rome that did ring true was when he said that when he is told not to do something it makes him all the keener to do it. That sounds about right. He’s cocky, stubborn and utterly convinced he’s right. These were qualities that were probably great assets during his playing career. But, as a 62-year-old sports presenter with a huge following, commenting on serious complex geopolitical issues? Not so much. It seems immature and arrogant.

Sometimes we are told not to do something for a good reason, and we should listen and stop. But, as long as Lineker tweets his simplistic under-informed views without consequences – and is even rewarded for it – that seems highly unlikely.