Xuenou > Featured > Gary Lineker calls out Twitter owner Elon Musk after troll told son ‘burn at the stake’
Gary Lineker calls out Twitter owner Elon Musk after troll told son ‘burn at the stake’
Gary Lineker calls out Twitter owner Elon Musk after troll told son 'burn at the stake',Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker's son admitted he has ‘never had so much abuse’ since his dad was axed by the BBC for his open support of migrants and critiquing of the government

Gary Lineker calls out Twitter owner Elon Musk after troll told son ‘burn at the stake’

Gary Lineker has called out Twitter owner Elon Musk after his son received vile abuse following the public fallout with the BBC.

Lineker was briefly suspended by the BBC last week for taking aim at the government for its rhetoric surrounding migrants. The England football legend received countless supportive tweets from fans on social media, but there were also those that targeted the 62-year-old with abuse.

Caught in the crossfire was one of Lineker’s four sons – George – who was told he should “be burned at the stake” for supporting his dad.

READ MORE: Alan Shearer and Ian Wright avoid punishment by BBC for Match of the Day boycott

George posted a screenshot of the horrifying message on Tuesday, tweeting: “Social media’s mad isn’t it. Over the last few days, on insta- never had so many nice messages. On Twitter- never had so much abuse. It’s not even anything to do with me.”

The full message read: “Your a mug how dare you stick up for what your sh**house of a dad said you need to be burned at the stake.”

Now-reinstated Match of the Day host Lineker retweeted his son’s post while tagging Elon Musk and Twitter. He captioned it: “Is this acceptable? And I don’t mean the grammar.”

What do you think the punishment should be for sending abusive messages on Twitter ? Let us know in the comments section.

People are still freely abused on Elon Musk-owned app Twitter
People are still freely abused on Elon Musk-owned app Twitter (Image: Getty Images)
Gary Lineker's son George defended his father's support of refugees
Gary Lineker's son George defended his father's support of refugees (Image: Getty Images Europe)

George had publicly defended dad Gary in an interview with The Sunday Mirror, saying: “Dad is a good man, a good human, and I’m proud of him for standing by his word.

"That’s why he was pulled off the show – because he wouldn’t apologise. But he will always speak up for people who don’t have a voice.

“He is passionate about helping refugee charities – he took in two refugees who he is still in touch with and trying to help.”

Gary Lineker will return to Match of the Day this weekend
Gary Lineker will return to Match of the Day this weekend (Image: BBC / Pete Dadds)

Free £2 shop bet with William Hill every day of the Cheltenham Festival – plus all the fantastic daily coverage you need

Pick up your Daily Star every day of the festival for racing specials, day by day updates and free bet EVERY DAY.
Celebrate the biggest racing week of the year- the Cheltenham Festival. One of the most prestigious National Hunt Meetings of the calendar is not to be missed…and we’ve got a bumper week of amazing content and great reader offers. Find out more HERE.

Lineker’s punishment from the BBC came after he compared the language used by Home Secretary Suella Braverman when launching a new asylum policy to that used in 1930s Germany.

The BBC initially suspended the Match of the Day presenter for not apologising but backtracked after a show of solidarity by other presenters, pundits and commentators who refused to go on air.

READ NEXT:

  • Lorraine Kelly slams BBC over 'badly handled' Gary Lineker fiasco and MOTD shambles
  • Richard Osman jokes he's been 'fired' over Monster Munch tweet in jibe at Lineker vs BBC
  • Biggest football TV scandals ever – from Gary Lineker axing to Keys and Gray sexism