Fans on social media took to slam Gary Lineker for his unfortunate blunder on Saturday night’s episode of Match of the Day.
The error made by the presenter came on the day that the nation learned that World Cup winner and Leeds legend Jack Charlton passed away.
Lineker made a mistake that enraged Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday supporters on Twitter during the special tribute.
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He ended up apologising after he could be heard stating that the English footballing icon managed the Blades when it was actually the Owls.
In his apology, he clarified his comments after making an error in his tribute to Charlton, who passed away at the age of 85 after he had been diagnosed with lymphoma in the last year and also suffered from dementia.
Tributes came from everyone associated with the sport towards the the former Leeds centre-back, who went on to manage Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle as well as the Republic of Ireland.
Premier League teams took part in a minute’s silence before Saturday’s fixtures, while Match of the Day opened with a special mention remembering the Three Lions legend.
However, Lineker’s error during the show’s introduction left a horrid mark on a day of remembrance.
“After playing, manager Jack, with Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Newcastle. And then the leap of faith. The manager of Ireland, who took the Republic to places they had never been,” Lineker said.
Lineker went on to apologise for the mistake and offer a clarification later in the show.
After the highlights from West Ham’s 4-0 win over Norwich City, which relegated the Canaries, Lineker added: “We’ll come to the game shortly.
“But first, I’d like to apologise for our opening tribute to Jack Charlton, where I listed the clubs he managed as obviously Newcastle and I said Sheffield United instead of Sheffield Wednesday, which it obviously was.
“So, sincere apologies for that.”
Niall Quinn led Irish football’s tributes to Jack Charlton: “I’m sure I’m not the only Irish person who shed a tear or two this morning. I’m devastated. I am finding it very hard to put into words what Jack meant to the whole country, not just to me and to those of us lucky enough to have played for him in an Ireland shirt.
“Jack Charlton led the band. He brought us, as a players and fans, to places we never thought possible beforehand and gave us so many precious moments. He changed lives. For his players, he gave us the best days of our lives.
“This news has hit me with a bang. We have so much to be grateful to Jack for and I am truly saddened, like so many others, with this news today. Our thoughts go to Pat and Jack’s family who shared that wonderful journey with us. May he rest in peace.”
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Mick McCarthy last spoke to Jack on the day after the great man celebrated his 85th birthday in May.
“I loved the bones of the man, I am devastated with this news and my heart goes out to Pat and the family,” said Mick. “Jack’s passing will touch Ireland, England and the football world but the loss to football will be felt in Ireland more than anywhere else.
“English fans will always remember Jack as one of their World Cup winners in 1966 but what he did with Ireland will, I suspect, mean even more to our fans and the country.
“He turned a really good team into a team that qualified for tournaments and made an impact at them. He changed my life, he changed everything for all of us who played for Ireland and just look at the memories we have.
“We will always have Stuttgart and Genoa and Giants Stadium thanks to Jack. That’s how we will remember him, with a great big smile on his face. I know this is a sad day but we will remember the great days as well.
“I did speak to him very briefly the day after his birthday but it was difficult due to his health. I told him I loved the bones of him that day and I always will.”
The statement from the Charlton family said: “We cannot express how proud we are of the extraordinary life he led and the pleasure he brought to so many people in different countries and from all walks of life.
“He was a thoroughly honest, kind, funny and genuine man who always had time for people.
“His loss will leave a huge hole in all our lives but we are thankful for a lifetime of happy memories.”
Charlton’s granddaughter Kate Wilkinson said in her Twitter post: “Beyond sad to have to say goodbye to my beloved Grandad, Jack Charlton.
“He enriched so many lives through football, friendship and family. He was a kind, funny and thoroughly genuine man and our family will miss him enormously.”
Her sister Emma added: “Yesterday was a very sad day. My grandad, Jack Charlton, died peacefully at home.
“He was kind, playful and genuine, and I’ll miss him so much. Already seen many lovely messages in his honour. I’ll share them with his wife, my grandma Pat, to help her through this difficult time.”
Sir Geoff Hurst said in his tribute: “Another sad day for football. Jack was the type of player and person that you need in a team to win a World Cup.
“He was a great and loveable character and he will be greatly missed . The world of football and the world beyond football has lost one of the greats. RIP old friend.”
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Ray Houghton, who played under Charlton during his decade in charge of Ireland, said in his own tribute on talkSPORT: “He was a larger than life character.
“The word legend is used too much in football but not for Jack, for what he’s done domestically with Leeds, winning the World Cup, which he should have been knighted for, I’ve still never understood that, I think that’s an absolute disgrace and the fact that he did so well with Ireland.’
“He changed everything about Irish football because there was a stage where we hadn’t qualified for tournaments, we had some great players and very good managers but didn’t quite get over the line.
“Jack came in and changed that mentality, got us through two World Cups and one European Championship. His legacy within Ireland is absolutely huge.”
As mentioned, fans took to slam Gary Lineker for his unfortunate blunder when paying tribute to Charlton on Match of the Day…
Kin’ell… Gary Lineker! BBC MOTD
Saying Jack Charlton was manager of Sheffield Utd…….
When he was Sheffield Wednesday— *martin murphy (@LeoMarmir) July 11, 2020
#MOTD What have I just heard Gary Lineker say on Match of the Day? That Jack Charlton managed Sheffield United???!!!!
— Rufus Meakin (@rufusmeakin) July 11, 2020
@GaryLineker …..big Jack managed Wednesday not united…..do your homework
— maltaowls (@maltaowls1) July 11, 2020
@GaryLineker OI!! Take that back… Jack Charlton never managed the pigs. He was the manager at @swfc . He was ours, not theirs. #WAWAW
— Jono Heenan (@JonoHeenan8) July 11, 2020
@GaryLineker great to give a tribute to Big Jack . Loved in Sheffield. But for the 2nd time today the BBC saying he managed Sheff Utd. He didn’t it’s Sheff Wed. RIP Jack
— Rob Earnshaw (@Rearn01T) July 11, 2020
@GaryLineker @BBCSport lovely tribute to Jack Charlton on MOTD but please don’t mix up the Sheffield clubs – he managed Wednesday not United!
— Caroline Thorpe (@CazT1975) July 11, 2020
@GaryLineker you really should have known before reading out the auto cue that Big Jack managed Sheffield Wednesday, NOT United- thats not very professional of you Gary! Real professionals deserve better than lip service!
RIP Jackie Charlton.— Paul Howard (@PaulhowardPaul) July 11, 2020
Gary big jack managed WEDNESDAY NOT UNITED ???????????
— simon scruby (@scoob441) July 11, 2020
Gary Lineker, a man who’s paid millions to know stuff about football has just said on MOTD that Jack Charlton managed Sheff Utd FFS
— John Hurley (@JohnHur98209308) July 11, 2020
Did Gary Lineker just say Sheffield United in his opening about Jack Charlton ffs
— david aldous (@davealdous) July 11, 2020
@GaryLineker disgraceful you got the team wrong who Jack Charlton managed.
— gavin atkins (@stannyblade) July 11, 2020
@GaryLineker how could you not even get your ow tribute to #jackcharlton right. Manager at Sheffied Wednesday not United.
Got to assume it was pre recorded so absolutely no excuse. Shoddy, amateurish and disrespectful. @BBCMOTD #MOTD
— Mr SD Burke (@MrSDBurke1) July 11, 2020
Poor form for a pre-recorded piece by @GaryLineker for @BBCMOTD to state that Jack Charlton managed Sheffield United, not Wednesday as was actually the case. Is it really that hard? No chance you’d hear Man Utd being accidentally confused for Man City. ?
— Chris Shelley (@chris_shelley) July 11, 2020
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