Former Premier League Manager Accuses Gary Lineker of Exploiting Manchester Synagogue Attack to Fuel Division

A former football manager has criticized Gary Lineker for using last week’s tragic attack on a Manchester synagogue to promote divisive politics. The attack resulted in the deaths of two Jewish men, Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby, when a terrorist rammed a car into the synagogue and attacked worshippers with knives and plant pots. Several others were injured while trying to defend the victims.

In the aftermath, Lineker posted and shared social media messages supporting victims in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Notably, he liked a video from Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who accused certain individuals of exploiting the Manchester tragedy to suppress peaceful protests against what he described as genocide in Gaza. Lineker has been active in condemning violence in Gaza since parting ways with the BBC, following a controversial post about Zionism.

At the Legends of Football event, where Lineker received recognition, former Premier League boss Avram Grant, an Israeli national, publicly condemned him. Grant accused Lineker of “using an attack on innocent Jews to foster hate and division,” questioning why he showed no concern for other atrocities, including the Holocaust and recent violence against civilians in Manchester.

Grant, who previously managed clubs like Chelsea and West Ham, also criticized Lineker for sharing a pro-Palestinian post last year, accusing him of ignoring atrocities against women and children. These comments sparked backlash, with some fans branding Neville and others for their comments and content related to the ongoing conflict and recent events.

Overall, the criticism centers on the perception that using tragic violence for political agendas undermines efforts to promote peace and unity.