Gary Lineker under fire after posting pro-Palestine video featuring rat emoji, a well-known antisemitic slur on Jews

Gary Lineker has been condemned aft sharing an Instagram video which featured an emoji of a rat, with critics accusing him of promoting a acquainted antisemitic slur.

The Match Of The Day presenter and erstwhile England shot skipper posted a reel originating with the pro-Palestine radical Palestine Lobby.

The cartoon representation of a rat was seen connected surface throughout, supra the video successful which Canadian-Palestinian lawyer Diana Buddu attacks Israel's warfare successful Gaza.

Lineker has been vocal successful his ain criticisms of Israel's actions.

But campaigners accidental sharing this peculiar video with the rat representation goes excessively acold and person besides criticised the BBC for whom Lineker volition stay until aft adjacent year's World Cup portion stepping down arsenic Match Of The Day big this month.

Disgusted users connected X shared his station to connected the societal media platform, formerly known arsenic Twitter.

It was instantly flagged arsenic a station which 'may interruption X’s rules against Hateful Conduct'.

Images of rats and different vermin were regularly utilized arsenic tropes by Nazi Germany to picture Jewish people.

The foundation Campaign Against Antisemitism posted connected X: 'Nothing to spot here. Just Gary Lineker’s Instagram relationship sharing an anti-Israel video misrepresenting Zionism, implicit with a rat emoji.' 

There has been a backlash connected societal media against some Lineker and his BBC employers following his sharing of the video, which remained connected his Instagram leafage today.

One poster wrote connected X: 'Hidden successful insta stories @GaryLineker displays precisely what helium is - implicit with the rat picture.

'@BBC that you take to judge his behaviour, and support him connected your payroll, is arsenic disgusting arsenic it is shameful.'

Barrister Simon Myerson KC, who chairs the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, wondered whether Lineker would 'have the guts to explicate this to Emily Damari', 1 of the hostages captured by Hamas successful their panic attacks connected October 7 2023.

Mr Myerson added: 'I reckon not. Big antheral down a keyboard mind.'

Former BBC writer Sean McGinty posted: 'The brag of the BBC, Two-tier Tim Davie, is sitting connected his hands again.

'Is helium excessively frightened oregon excessively dim to recognize what @GaryLineker is saying here?

'This antisemitic station (note the rat) connected Linekar’s Instagram cannot beryllium defended. Yet helium has demanded to enactment to contiguous the World Cup adjacent twelvemonth and the BBC person agreed.

'I emotion what the BBC erstwhile was (for each its faults) and it pains maine greatly to ticker it being vandalised to the constituent of demolition by these radical for their ain fiscal gains.'

Clint Matthews wrote: 'Nothing to spot here. Just @GaryLineker proudly showing his antisemitic roots.'

Labour Against Antisemitism activistic Emma Picken said: '@GaryLineker is an antisemite. Gross.' 

MailOnline has contacted for remark representatives for Lineker, the BBC and the radical Palestine Lobby that initially posted the video reel. 

Lineker, who played for Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Barcelona, has antecedently faced contention for his governmental interventions which critics assertion are breaches of the BBC's impartiality rules.

In January past twelvemonth helium said helium received threats aft helium retweeted and aboriginal deleted a station connected societal media calling for Israel to beryllium banned from planetary sporting events, including football.

Later, speaking to quality tract Zeteo, helium said: 'There is simply a batch of dense lobbying connected radical to beryllium quiescent truthful I recognize wherefore astir radical refrain but I'm getting connected a spot now, I'm reasonably unafraid and I can't beryllium soundless astir what's happening.

'I deliberation it's conscionable so, truthful utterly atrocious and present they're talking about, "Oh, it looks similar it's happening, going into Rafah", wherever they've sent everybody down there.

'So I don't spot however you tin beryllium - it's not antisemitic to accidental that what Israel is doing is wrong. I conscionable can't spot however everybody doesn't spot it that mode now.

'But immoderate the cause, immoderate started it - we each cognize that the past of this country of the satellite goes mode earlier October 7th. But it's genuinely dreadful what's happening.

'And I outcry connected a regular ground erstwhile I spot definite images connected societal media.'