A refugee taken in by Gary Lineker has praised the Match of the Day star for ‘defending humanity’ amid a BBC row over a tweet he sent about the migrant crisis.
Rasheed Baluch lived with the football pundit for weeks back in 2020, when he was given free bed and board at Lineker’s £4million home in Surrey.
The 35-year-old dubbed him a ‘caring and loving defender of humanity’ who ‘should be a point of pride for the British public’ as he returned to our TV screens having been reinstated by the BBC.
He was taken off the air over a tweet comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany.
‘Gary has come forward to defend humanity,’ Law student Rasheed told The Mirror. ‘It should be a point of pride for the British public.
‘He has been given the right of freedom, right of thought and expression. So if the institutions react so negatively against the statement of Gary, it is undemocratic and unfair.’
The refugee who stayed with Gary Lineker in 2020 dubbed him a ‘caring and loving defender of humanity’ who ‘should be a point of pride for the British public’ as he returned to our TV screens having been reinstated by the BBC
Rasheed was taken in after he fled the Pakistan province of Balochistan, fearing for his safety. He said Lineker helped with his travel costs, and showed an interest in his background and story.
‘He is friendly and open-minded. He loved to listen to me when I shared my story about the situation in my country and the plight of my people,’ he said.
‘Although Gary is a star, he leads a simple life. He is never proud of his status. He is a very sympathetic, caring and human loving man.’
In 2020, Lineker, 62, shared a letter that Rasheed had penned to him and his family, in which he wrote: ‘During my stay in your beautiful home, I never felt that I am a stranger or a guest, but it seemed to me as if I am a member of your family.
‘I will never forget your hospitality, love and company that you and your lovely, respectful children gave to me.’
Lineker, who has four sons – George, Harry, Angus and Tobais – shared the letter with his followers, writing: ‘Thanks Rasheed for giving such a different perspective on life to both myself and my boys’.
He also thanked Refugees at Home (RaH) for arranging the placement, adding: ‘It was a hugely positive experience and I will definitely host again.’
In 2021, Lineker hosted a second refugee, a young Turkish person who is now studying at university, for a month.
Lineker, who has four sons – George, Harry, Angus and Tobais – shared the letter with his followers
In 2021, Lineker hosted a second refugee, a young Turkish person who is now studying at university, for a month
BBC Sport presenter Gary Lineker (right) and pundit Alan Shearer, returning to TV screens following a row over impartiality
The refugee said Lineker helped with his travel costs, and showed an interest in his background and story
It comes after Lineker returned to live presenting on the BBC as part of the broadcaster’s coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley.
He was joined in the studio by Alan Shearer who, with other BBC Sport colleagues, walked out in ‘solidarity’ with Lineker over the Twitter row. England footballer turner pundit Micah Richards also joined the pair on the screen.
Speaking with his colleagues on air, Shearer said: ‘I just need to clear up and wanted to say how upset we were (to) all the audiences who missed out on last weekend.
‘It was a really difficult situation for everyone concerned – and through no fault of their own, some really great people in TV and in radio were put in an impossible situation and that wasn’t fair.
‘So it’s good to get back to some sort of normality and be talking about football again.’
Lineker responded that he ‘absolutely’ agreed with the ‘sentiments’ saying that it was ‘great to be here.’
Before coming on air, Lineker posted a photo of himself at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester and told his Twitter followers: ‘Ah the joys of being allowed to stick to football.’
It comes after Lineker returned to live presenting on the BBC as part of the broadcaster’s coverage of the FA Cup quarter-final between Manchester City and Burnley.
He was joined in the studio by Alan Shearer who, with other BBC Sport colleagues, walked out in ‘solidarity’ with Lineker over the Twitter row . England footballer turner pundit Micah Richards also joined the pair on the screen
Before coming on air, Lineker posted a photo of himself at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester and told his Twitter followers: ‘Ah the joys of being allowed to stick to football.’
On Monday, BBC director-general Tim Davie said in a statement the BBC has commissioned an independent review of its social media guidelines, particularly for freelancers.
He apologised for what he acknowledged had been ‘a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audiences’ and described the BBC’s commitment to freedom of expression and impartiality as a ‘difficult balancing act’.
He added: ‘The potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC’s social media guidance that was introduced in 2020 is recognised. I want to get matters resolved and our sport content back on air.’
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