Gary Lineker hits back after being given 'spanking' in row over child migrants' ages

Migrant row: Gary Lineker
Leon Neal/AFP/Getty
Fiona Simpson25 October 2016

Gary Lineker today hit back in a row over the age of child migrants brought to the UK.

The Match of the Day host was at the centre of a storm after criticising media coverage questioning the age of children brought to Britain from Calais.

He shared a reportedly false claim that a migrant pictured in The Sun newspaper was in fact an adult working for the Home Office.

The Government then stepped in by saying the refugee – pictured arriving in Croydon from Calais earlier this week - was in fact among those who claimed to be a child, according to the paper.

Officials are facing mounting questions over their age tests on children brought to the UK from the Calais Jungle
Reuters

And former England striker Lineker today hit back - saying he had been "given a spanking” after being inundated with abuse over the claims on social media.

He posted on Twitter: “Getting a bit of a spanking today, but things could be worse: Imagine, just for a second, being a refugee having to flee from your home.”

He also thanked fans for their support, adding: “Thank you for a massive amount of support on here.

“Proof that the vast majority of people in this country are decent, caring human beings.”

Journalist Caroline Criado-Perez, actor David Schneider and law lecturer Simon McCaffrey were forced to apologise following the row.

Mr Schneider wrote on Twitter: “Home Office say guy in Sun pic isn’t their interpreter. I therefore apologise to The Sun, will delete tweet.”

Ms Criado-Perez said: “Apparently not a Home Office interpreter. My bad not checking. Press coverage still shameful, however. Ppl fleeing conflict deserve refuge.”

In a statement, a spokesman for charity TACT Foster and Adop, which shared the tweet, said: “With regard to a recent tweet by TACT questioning the status of an individual male in a photograph at Calais, our information was from a credible source.

“However, if the male is indeed a migrant and not an interpreter, TACT regrets any concern caused. The tweet has now been withdrawn as we do not want to cause any further distress to the individual depicted."

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