Gary Lineker fires 'unpleasant' dig after being named on 'woke list'

The Match of the Day presenter said he is “very honoured” to have been named as one of Britain’s wokest celebrities.

The newspaper claimed the list highlighted celebrities who are “most high-profile in their awakedness to perceived injustices in society - but who have also been accused of having an exaggerated fixation with such issues”.

Lineker, 62, was included on the list after comparing Rishi Sunak’s asylum policy to Nazi Germany.

The former Spurs striker said: "Good heavens, this is beyond awful.

"There is no huge influx [of refugees]. We take far fewer refugees than other major European countries.

“This is just an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the thirties.”

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Lineker’s tweet resulted in turmoil at Broadcasting House as the Match of the Day host was removed from air.

The 62-year-old’s suspension was short-lived as the BBC came under pressure from pundits and commentators who boycotted the show in solidarity with Lineker.

During The Mail on Sunday’s section on Lineker, the newspaper said: “Mouthpiece of the metropolitan chattering classes – interpreting the term 'commentator' to sound off about everything from Brexit to climate change.

“As the BBC's high-est-paid star (salary £1.35 million), he has likened the Tory Government's immigration policy to some-thing out of Nazi Germany.”

Responding to The Mail on Sunday’s list, Lineker said on Twitter: “Very honoured to be on such a list.

“Thank you to this normally unpleasant newspaper for showing a degree of kindness.”

The Mail on Sunday’s list included several other high-profile figures, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf also made the cut after focusing on LGBT measures enacted north of the border.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, who like Lineker is a critic of the Government’s asylum policy, was included at the top of the list.

He was accompanied by Welsh actor Michael Sheen and former BBC journalist Emily Maitlis.