Gary Lineker, a former footballer and renowned sports personality, has been barred from speaking at the memorial service of late football journalist Brian Glanville. The decision was made by Glanville's son, Mark, who stated that he won't allow Lineker "anywhere near" his father's memorial service due to his criticisms of Israel.
Brian Glanville was a respected former Daily Express sports reporter and a Jewish man who had been friends with Lineker since the latter's early days at Leicester City. The family had initially considered inviting Lineker to speak at the service held in St Bride's Church on London's Fleet Street.
However, this changed when Lineker shared an anti-Zionism post featuring an illustration of a rat on social media. This led him to leave BBC under controversial circumstances.
Crossing a sensitive line
Mark Glanville expressed his disappointment over this incident: "I can't have somebody coming to speak at my Dad's memorial service who, though not anti-Semitic himself, is someone who is giving ammunition to people who are anti-Semites." He further explained that sharing an image associated with Nazis crossed a line for him and his family.
The Nazis notoriously used images of rats as derogatory depictions of Jews during World War II. Mark added that despite his father’s respect for Lineker as both a player and Match Of The Day presenter, he would not have wanted him present due to this controversy. Brian Glanville passed away last month from Parkinson’s Disease aged 93 years old. His son revealed in an interview with Mail on Sunday about how deeply the atrocities committed during the Holocaust impacted his father. Born in 1931, Brian experienced first-hand anti-Semitic abuse while attending Charterhouse School, a fee-paying institution in Surrey.
The incident serves as a reminder of the sensitivity surrounding anti-Semitism and the impact it can have on relationships and reputations. Despite Lineker's long-standing friendship with Brian Glanville, his controversial post led to him being barred from speaking at his friend's memorial service. This highlights the importance of understanding and respecting cultural sensitivities, especially when it comes to public figures who are often under scrutiny for their actions and statements.
