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Joey Barton hits out over tweet from ‘virtue signalling tw*t” Gary Lineker

Joey Barton hits out over a tweet which was posted from ‘virtue signalling tw*t” Gary Lineker ahead of the Champions League final.

Just 24 hours before the much anticipated event, taking place at Wembley in London on Saturday night, Gary Lineker put out a tweet having seen a story published by The Athletic.

The Athletic wrote: “Borussia Dortmund have signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with weapons manufacturer Rheinmetall.

“The logo of the arms company will be displayed on Dortmund’s licensed products ahead of the club’s Champions League final against Real Madrid on June 1 and will be displayed on stadium advertising boards and during press conferences — but it will not appear on players’ shirts.

“The German club say the agreement will see Rheinmetall gain “the use of wide-reaching advertising space, marketing rights and event and hospitality arrangements in the stadium and on the club grounds”.

“It is the first time that a Bundesliga club have agreed a sponsorship with a German defence company.”

To which Gary Lineker shared it, with the caption: “First time I’ll be cheering for @realmadriden in a Champions League final.”

But then his tweet caught the attention of Joey Barton, who replied: “Yet, you still took Qatari money for the World Cup. Did you work Russia one as well? And I bet if Saudi get the next one, your trotters will be all over that as well. You big virtue signalling twat. 👍

“Crisp Nonce at it again! 👂 #Virtuesignallingtwat

“I find it comical at this point. I don’t think he’s realised how far he’s disappeared up his own ring piece. 😭👍”

Lineker has never cheered on Real Madrid before because of his allegiance to his former club Barcelona.

Dortmund said the new deal with Rheinmetall includes ‘wide-reaching advertising space, marketing rights and event and hospitality arrangements in the stadium and on the club grounds’ starting from this week’s buildup for the Champions League final.

Rheinmetall are to build a new plant in northern Germany to produce around 200,000 artillery shells per year as part of European efforts to increase weapons production against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine, as per Metro.

‘Security and defense are fundamental cornerstones of our democracy. That is why we believe it is the right decision to take a very close look at how we protect these cornerstones,’ Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke said in a statement.

‘Especially today, when we see every day how freedom must be defended in Europe. We should deal with this new normality.’

Gary Lineker said back in November 2022 that he was in Qatar to “report, not support” the World Cup and also discussed the issues surrounding the “tainted” tournament while live on air in Qatar after the host nation received widespread criticised for its stance on same-sex relationships, its human rights record and treatment of migrant workers.

Lineker sensed a “queasy feeling” surrounding the tournament.

“This is our job to come and report it and show people what it’s about at home and hopefully in a fair way,” he said.

Speaking to BBC sports editor Dan Roan, Lineker said: “There are significant issues around this World Cup, obviously with human rights issues, what has happened with the building of the stadiums and workers’ rights and homophobia and various things they have here.

“I am accustomed to it as I’ve spent most of my life in the build-up to World Cups talking about issues other than football, but when the football starts you tend to stop talking about it. But that is how sportswashing works so you have to be careful.”

Qatar were accused of sportswashing – where they use sport to improve reputation and project a positive image of a country – but World Cup organisers promised openness and inclusivity.

Referring to Russia’s invasion of Crimea prior to the last World Cup in 2018, Lineker added: “I felt we were sportswashed in Russia. I don’t think the world stood up about what had happened in Crimea and I include ourselves in that.

“It didn’t seem like the world objected as much as they have done about Russia invading Ukraine. You learn lessons. This is where the World Cup is. It’s here and we are here to report the World Cup and not support it. We will raise the issues and talk about them.

“Whether that makes any change here, I suspect it won’t, but I think it’s important to talk about the various issues going on, as well as the football.”

Lineker and said being in Qatar was “almost surreal” adding it is “very different” to previous editions of the tournament.

England’s Harry Kane, Wales’ Gareth Bale and eight other captains of European teams wore ‘One Love’ armbands, to promote diversity and inclusion in a country where homosexuality is illegal. Although that itself caused controversy.

Lineker added that players at the World Cup “can’t win” whether they choose to speak out against Qatar or not.

“It’s a delicate balance between sportswashing and trying to make change. We will raise the issues at hand but will it really make a difference?” he said.

“We don’t and the footballers don’t get asked where the World Cup is. Footballers can never win, if you speak up and make a stand, people say stick to football.

“If you don’t say anything, they say why aren’t you speaking up? And we don’t necessarily get this in other sports.

“I know it’s global but it’s the same with talking about footballers’ salaries. People always talk about footballers getting paid too much but they don’t talk about movie stars or singers or golfers or Formula 1 drivers and I think it’s an element of these working class lads are a bit above their station. Even if it’s subconscious.”

Lineker said the decision to award Qatar the World Cup in 2010, was “unfathomable”.

Both decisions to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar has faced accusations of widespread corruption, with two investigations launched by Swiss prosecutors and the US Department of Justice in 2015.

Qatar and Russia denied wrongdoing, and were effectively cleared by Fifa’s own investigation in 2017.

Then-Fifa president Sepp Blatter does admit that it was a “mistake” to award the World Cup to Qatar.

Earlier in November, Fifa wrote to all 32 competing nations telling them to “now focus on the football” following the controversial build-up.

“That was a real lack of self-awareness from Fifa to say that,” said Lineker. “We have all seen the documentaries now, even though we felt it at the time.

“Most of the people who were involved in the decision to bring the World Cup here are in jail or expelled from Fifa or fined or banned so we all know. We are stuck with it but I guess we will try and make the most of it.

“It has come at a cost that shouldn’t have been paid. It’s on my mind when we talk about it and raise the issues, which we will on the television.

“When there is a football match being played, I will be watching the football match but at the same time our thoughts will be with those who have lost their lives. How can you forget that?”

Fans gave their reaction as Joey Barton hits out over the tweet from ‘virtue signalling tw*t” Gary Lineker…

@KnowledgeVaultV: That’s very true, he doesn’t mind the Saudi money but mind the Dortmund sponsorship deal

@big_twiggy: Didn’t he get paid by the BBC to be there? So, British money? And also spoke out about the human rights issues in Qatar regularly whilst there?

@NoImPatch: Joey. He works for the BBC. He’s paid by the BBC. Unless the BBC is now owned by the Qatari government he’s not taken money from them has he

@DEATHBYTACOS_: He was working for the BBC you tit 😂

@Robinhocfc89: Correct me if I’m wrong, you have a court case for calling someone a n***** but you still continue to call people it?

@newstartnik: You’re pathetic, you’ve just been done for calling people that name are you so desperate for attention…h ope he sues you into the next millennium you cretin..

@barclay1988: Joey loves being sued.

@JohnWilsdon5: I don’t understand. Isn’t he paid by the BBC?? So from our licence fee??

@Im_sprouticus: Why are you in court again?

@im_your_gent: Does Joey Barton ever miss? 🙌🏼🙌🏼🤣🤣

@kev_fat_bloke: Don’t hold back, Joey…lol

@SteveMc9: Bit harsh.. new target to harass since Vine shut you down mate?

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