Gary to welcome a second refugee despite criticism
ACCUSATIONS IT
LEICESTER City legend Gary Lineker is to take in a second refugee in a bid to help those most in need.
The Match of the Day host said the student, who will be coming from the Balochistan province of Pakistan, had been due to arrive two weeks ago but paperwork had held up the process.
Last year, he took in a refugee after being accused on social media of “virtue signalling” for highlighting the plight of people trying to get to the UK.
But the footballer-turned-broadcaster has revealed that was not a oneoff. He says he is looking forward to the arrival and stands by his belief it is the right thing to do despite past criticism.
“The refugee thing, I will never be able to comprehend being attacked for wanting to help people who are being bombed, who are risking their lives jumping on dinghies because they’re so desperate,” he told The Sun.
“How can anyone have a total lack of empathy for people in the most dire circumstances?”
The 60-year-old former footballer previously took in another refugee from Pakistan last year and said that while some believed it was a one-off, his passion for the cause meant that would never be the case.
“It wasn’t just a one-off like the public perception was,” he continued.
“It’s genuine. I got a lot out of it, and it was just a wonderful experience.”
Speaking previously, Gary revealed his desire to help was kickstarted by the horror and outrage caused by the drowning of young Syrian refugee Alan Kurdi.
The youngster drowned off the coast of Greece in 2015 with the images of his body sending shockwaves around the world.
“It was seeing the images of what was happening when they were going in the boats and landing in Greece, seeing families dying, it just struck me as so intolerably sad,” he told The Mirror in 2020.
It was in this same interview he revealed no apprehension ahead of taking in a refugee.
“I have had so much connection with refugees over the last couple of years,” he said. “I have met scores of young refugees through football schemes and they are genuinely lovely kids and they appreciate any help they can get. I’m sure it will be fine. I have been thinking of doing something like that for a while.” A father to four grown-up sons, Lineker added: “My kids are all grown up so I’ve got plenty of room, so if I can help on a temporary basis then I’m more than happy to do so. Why not? “I’m used to young men in my house, I have four lads in their 20s and believe you me, I’m sure they will behave better than my lot do.”
WAS ONE-OFF FOR HOST OF MATCH OF DAY
I will never be able to comprehend being attacked for wanting to help people who are being bombed Gary Lineker