Gary Lineker's tweet

Well Gary Lineker doesn’t speak for me. Hateful hyperbolic language used. Get him back next week (seems likely now) as a pundit with his mates on MotD. Mind you, funny how the ratings went up by half a million viewers last night without him presenting it. Football is the most popular national sport in the UK. Fans who rely on terrestrial tv for highlights are not going to switch off just because Lineker and his panel aren’t the presenters! They want goals, tackles and the league positions.

Oreo

Fleurpepper

More context

According to this analysis the most ethically diverse European countries in order are:
Liechtenstein
Belgium
Switzerland
Luxembourg
Spain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Albania
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Finland

and finally UK

Not finally at all, you’re just suiting your agenda.
Having looked up this list there are many other European countries further down on this list than us, including Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Austria and France amongst others.

17th- and this in response to those saying that the UK has far more immigrants than other EU countries. What is your agenda? Does it stand up to scrutiny?

Fleurpepper you tried to show that in the list of countries we were at the bottom by leaving out all the ones who were less ethnically/ racially diverse than the UK.France was under us are was Italy, Netherlands Austria Ireland, Sweden and others.
I’m not the one with an agenda or bee in the bonnet.

Unless you call my agenda not liking seeing the truth being twisted.

I gave the list which showed 16 above, and stopped at the UK. Simple enough. No twisting.

Fleurpepper

I gave the list which showed 16 above, and stopped at the UK. Simple enough. No twisting.

Actually you said “And finally UK”. I read your post and thought we were at the bottom of the pile, which I gather we are not.

Also, did you mean ‘ethically’, or ‘ethnically’?

Fleurpepper

I gave the list which showed 16 above, and stopped at the UK. Simple enough. No twisting.

Come off it, Fleurpepper. How can you write "and finally UK" without conveying the impression (to someone taking a quick look) that UK is at the bottom of the European List. If that ain't twisting, then I'm a (even less diverse) Dutchman!

Urmstongran

Well Gary Lineker doesn’t speak for me. Hateful hyperbolic language used. Get him back next week (seems likely now) as a pundit with his mates on MotD. Mind you, funny how the ratings went up by half a million viewers last night without him presenting it. Football is the most popular national sport in the UK. Fans who rely on terrestrial tv for highlights are not going to switch off just because Lineker and his panel aren’t the presenters! They want goals, tackles and the league positions.

Did you watch last night Urmstongran? People tuned in out of curiosity, but I follow a few football websites, and watched it myself, it was dire without commentary. Football fans all over the UK are supporting Gary’s return - he is the best in the business, whatever you think about his politics, and is sorely missed by those who care about football. The BBC are going to capitulate, they need him.

The chairman and director general are both Tory place-men and should be sacked if the BBC is ever to restore its tarnished reputation.

It's an insult to the intelligence of football fans if they BBC thinks they need a group of overpaid people to tell them what they have just watched with their own eyes.

No, I didn’t watch it Casdon I don’t like football. Himself didn’t watch it either. As he said though, back in the day the great John Motson used to commentate during play. Pretty much that’s all that’s needed. If the BBC saved the millions of ££s they pay the pundit panel they could afford some Champion League matches instead and for fans, that would really mean something!

Bodach

Fleurpepper

I gave the list which showed 16 above, and stopped at the UK. Simple enough. No twisting.

Come off it, Fleurpepper. How can you write "and finally UK" without conveying the impression (to someone taking a quick look) that UK is at the bottom of the European List. If that ain't twisting, then I'm a (even less diverse) Dutchman!

Yes, finally, after the other 16. No twisting. It is clear from my short list than I was not going to list every single country in the world.

We shall have to agree to disagree Casdon. Some football fans want Gary Lineker back but there is such a thing as the silent majority. Just because the shouty people support Lineker does not mean they are the majority on this issue. Just the most vociferous.

Why do the right wing always claim to be a "silent majority" when at every election most voters vote against the Tory Party?

Urmstongran

It's an insult to the intelligence of football fans if they BBC thinks they need a group of overpaid people to tell them what they have just watched with their own eyes.

No, I didn’t watch it Casdon I don’t like football. Himself didn’t watch it either. As he said though, back in the day the great John Motson used to commentate during play. Pretty much that’s all that’s needed. If the BBC saved the millions of ££s they pay the pundit panel they could afford some Champion League matches instead and for fans, that would really mean something!

It’s the format that makes it work though Urmstongran. The match commentators and the host and pundits make the games come alive. If you’re not a fan I appreciate it’s hard to see that, but it’s not unique to the BBC, it’s done in a similar way all over the world because it works for fans.

Himself is a huge fan Casdon. I was pretty much quoting his viewpoint about overpaid armchair pundits. I do understand the format. It’s akin to sitting with a beer with your mates discussing a game afterwards. I get that. But the price the BBC pay could be scaled right back and allow more football to be bid for. That was his point.

My point?

Lineker is entitled to his opinions the same as the rest of us, but he's obliged to abide by the necessary impartiality rules imposed by his employers, who are in turn obliged to adhere to the terms of their charter. The BBC is funded by what amounts to a compulsory tax imposed, under penalty of law, on everyone who watches live broadcast TV. That includes the many who disagree with outspoken ex-football prima donnas abusing their privileges as broadcasters and celebrities contrary to the rules they signed up to.

'he's obliged to abide by the necessary impartiality rules imposed by his employers, who are in turn obliged to adhere to the terms of their charter. '

and where is the evidence that he did not. Have you got a copy of his contract. He asked a question, on his private Twitter account, about the language used by some members of the Government.

Fleurpepper
Can we establish if you mean Ethically or * Ethnically*
Btw ( your favourite abbreviation) there’s a difference.

He has form Fleurpepper I’m sure you must remember. His tweeting has had him reprimanded in the past. He just went for it again because he thinks he can. He thinks he is untouchable. Actually it seems he is as Davie is flying back from America as we post our thoughts (on BBC funding, so of course it will be first class with a chauffeur driven car waiting for him at Heathrow) to persuade him to present MOTD next weekend.

Urmstongran

Himself is a huge fan Casdon. I was pretty much quoting his viewpoint about overpaid armchair pundits. I do understand the format. It’s akin to sitting with a beer with your mates discussing a game afterwards. I get that. But the price the BBC pay could be scaled right back and allow more football to be bid for. That was his point.

My point?

Lineker is entitled to his opinions the same as the rest of us, but he's obliged to abide by the necessary impartiality rules imposed by his employers, who are in turn obliged to adhere to the terms of their charter. The BBC is funded by what amounts to a compulsory tax imposed, under penalty of law, on everyone who watches live broadcast TV. That includes the many who disagree with outspoken ex-football prima donnas abusing their privileges as broadcasters and celebrities contrary to the rules they signed up to.

I think you pay a lot for the best in any business though, and Lineker is the best there is, acknowledged by other sportspeople and pundits, as well as by the BBC chief exec. The level of support he has received has really been quite astonishing. The reality is that the BBC need him, and the others.

We don’t agree on the politics, I’m not going there, that’s been done to death on this thread, and what’s clear to me is that the BBC guidance is ambiguous at best.

MerylStreep

Fleurpepper
Can we establish if you mean Ethically or * Ethnically*
Btw ( your favourite abbreviation) there’s a difference.

Mea culpa. It was copy and pasted from a friend, and I didn't notice. My bad. Ethnically, of course, makes no sense otherwise.

Urmstongran

It's an insult to the intelligence of football fans if they BBC thinks they need a group of overpaid people to tell them what they have just watched with their own eyes.

No, I didn’t watch it Casdon I don’t like football. Himself didn’t watch it either. As he said though, back in the day the great John Motson used to commentate during play. Pretty much that’s all that’s needed. If the BBC saved the millions of ££s they pay the pundit panel they could afford some Champion League matches instead and for fans, that would really mean something!

Um…Motson joined the BBC in 1971. Match of the Day started in 1964, and the format was always highlights of several matches, each with a separate commentator, of whom Motson was one. I’m astounded your husband didn’t mention commentators like Coleman (also an anchor), Bough and the ever-dreadful but unforgettable Stuart Hall.

There was always an anchor (the first being Kenneth Wolstenhome) who pulled all the content together and ensured a reasonably well-rounded discussion among the pundits - oh yes, the programme had those too. In fact, Lineker was one of the pundits during Des Lynam’s time as anchor.

So I wonder: is your husband mistaken, are you totally misinterpreting what he’s telling you, or are you - let’s be kind - being a tad selective in your reporting?

He did mention Jimmy Hill.
As I say I’m not a fan. I never watch football on tv terrestrial or otherwise. I know Lineker came after Des Lynam. But I think his main point was that the pundits are paid such astronomical fees - not full time work either! The BBC could do better with our licence money.

It’s a shame you’re not a fan. You’re very good at goalpost moving.

Urmstongran

Well Gary Lineker doesn’t speak for me. Hateful hyperbolic language used. Get him back next week (seems likely now) as a pundit with his mates on MotD. Mind you, funny how the ratings went up by half a million viewers last night without him presenting it. Football is the most popular national sport in the UK. Fans who rely on terrestrial tv for highlights are not going to switch off just because Lineker and his panel aren’t the presenters! They want goals, tackles and the league positions.

When did Lineker use "hateful hyperbolic language"? Which part of his tweet was hateful?

growstuff

Urmstongran

Well Gary Lineker doesn’t speak for me. Hateful hyperbolic language used. Get him back next week (seems likely now) as a pundit with his mates on MotD. Mind you, funny how the ratings went up by half a million viewers last night without him presenting it. Football is the most popular national sport in the UK. Fans who rely on terrestrial tv for highlights are not going to switch off just because Lineker and his panel aren’t the presenters! They want goals, tackles and the league positions.

When did Lineker use "hateful hyperbolic language"? Which part of his tweet was hateful?

Good question growstuff (not that UG will be able to see the truth as it doesn't fit her opinions).

He didn't. Conservative MPs, including members of the Cabinet, did. Wouldn't it be good if that meant UG would be as critical of them for what they actually said as she is of Lineker for what he didn't say? That's never going to happen, of course.

UG's post, and what we have heard from those supposed to lead the country, is the language of the extremist. The use of such language, in this way, has been seen down the centuries as a weapon of a bullet-less war (so far) against a government's own people.