Gary Lineker has expanded on his earlier tweet in which he compared the government’s immigration strategy to that of 1930s Germany.
The Match of the Day presenter pondered on the debate in an interview with Alastair Campbell for Men’s Health, after earlier criticising the Home Office for its controversial policy of preventing illegal boats transporting migrants from entering the UK.
‘This is just an immensely heartless policy aimed at the most vulnerable people in terminology not different to that used by Germany in the 1930s, and I’m out of order?’ wrote the former professional player at the time.
The remarks sparked a nationwide discussion, with Lineker subsequently describing the reaction as a “ridiculously exaggerated story.”
‘When I sent that tweet, it honestly never even crossed my mind that it would lead to where it went,’ he told the publication.
‘Then the “stick to football” people weighed in and I replied to one of them, just saying there was no massive influx, the UK takes far fewer refugees than other European countries, this is a cruel policy, and the language used in the debate reminds us of the debate in Germany in the 1930s.
‘I think that is factually accurate.’
Despite the reaction, the football expert later stated that he would not ‘back down’ from his views, but emphasised that he was not being ‘abusive.’
‘I wasn’t saying she [Braverman] was a Nazi,’ he added.
‘I talked about the use of words like “invasion” and “swarms” and “criminals” and “rapists”, which I think we should be very careful about because it has real-life consequences.’
The BBC later confirmed in a statement that Lineker would return to Match of the Day after he was temporarily suspended, with Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general, saying in a statement: ‘Gary is a valued part of the BBC and I know how much the BBC means to Gary, and I look forward to him presenting our coverage this coming weekend.’
Lineker added: ‘I am glad that we have found a way forward. I support this review and look forward to getting back on air.’
Aside from the shortened form of this weekend’s MOTD, Football Focus and Final Score were also postponed on Saturday.
The BBC apologised for any inconvenience the schedule adjustments would cause sports enthusiasts.
Gary Lineker was speaking to Men’s Health UK ‘Talking Heads’ columnist, Alastair Campbell, in an interview available on the magazine’s website now.