Gary Lineker has issued a defiant response to critics after a now deleted tweet about England hero Chloe Kelly caused offense in the aftermath of the Lionesses' monumental win against Germany on Sunday.
Like many others, including the 17.4 million viewers who tuned in to watch the final on the BBC, Gary got very involved in the game, tweeting at regular intervals throughout the 90 minutes and extra time. He was quick to praise Ella Toone's well taken goal which put England ahead, before declaring: 'Ah bu**er, Germans being Germans," when the opposition equalized.
When substitute Chloe found the net in the second half of extra time, the former England striker turned Match of the Day host reacted: "You beauty! before posting a now deleted tweet at the final whistle which read: "The Lionesses have only gone and done it, and Kelly is England’s heroine, bra none.’
READ MORE: Ruth Langsford breaks news of Loose Women first as viewers vote
The post, in relation to Chloe removing her shirt to celebrate was deemed sexist and crass by critics, before Gary replied to one critic to explain he taken the decision to remove the post, writing: "t was just a play on words given the celebration. I do rubbish like that constantly on here, including on men’s football. I’ve deleted it as many people didn't see the game so missed the context."
But, in a new tweet he posed on Tuesday evening, ex Spurs striker Gary took aim at those who scalded him for the original comment. Replying to a fan, he wrote: "I can only imagine that those who were offended were not watching the game and didn’t see Chloe Kelly’s brilliant celebration."
Opinion was very much split in the comments underneath, with some siding with Gary that it was ludicrous that people took offence, while others shared sexist tweets that were posted as a direct result of what he had written about Chloe.
Homing on the latter point of view, one Twitter user told him: "I found it really belittling and sexist esp in context of what female footballers are forced to tolerate and no. of girls who give up sport due being harassed about their bodies," with another replying: "I don’t think it was offensive so much as it was insulting. To have posted such an inane attempt at humour at that historic moment was ill-judged to say the least. Women’s football continually endures s**tty, sexist and belittling comments across social media - why add to that?"
Backing Gary, one fan responded: "It was a funny tweet and anyone who follows football and you knows how big a supporter you are of the women’s game," with another taking the same opinion and commenting: "Gary - it is not often that I agree with you. But the negative reaction to your tweet was ridiculous. Why are we losing our sense of humour."
Read next:
