Opinion | Gary Lineker Brexit battle with People’s Vote for a second referendum is brave move against the ‘stick to sports’ brigade
Gary Lineker is always told to stay out of politics, but kudos to the former England striker for putting his neck on the line for what he believes in
If you wondered whether famous sporting names carried any clout when it comes to their political opinions, just look at cricketing legend Imran Khan’s imminent crowning as prime minister of Pakistan.
The UK is far from having a Donald Trump-style celebrity leader, let alone a sporting figure in charge at No 10 Downing Street – over there, we just give Knighthoods to anyone who achieves anything of note with a bat or ball.
That makes Gary Lineker’s willingness to stick his neck out for what he believes in all the more commendable.
Former England striker Lineker, now host of the BBC’s Match of the Day, has been told over and again to stick to sports and stay out of politics every time he dares to venture an opinion about domestic or foreign affairs on Twitter.
Whether it be showing sympathy for the struggles faced by refugees, or questioning whether the UK’s departure from the EU is the right move for Britain, the 57-year-old is inundated with derogatory messages from right-wing trolls.
In the minds of this hateful mob, Lineker is betraying his country. No matter that the Vote Leave campaign has been fined and referred to the police after being charged with four counts of breaking electoral law, including legal spending limits.
