Gary Lineker returned to present Match of the Day on Saturday evening following a row with the BBC over his impartiality on Twitter. The 62-year-old was temporarily taken off air after criticising the Government's Illegal Migration Bill.
Upon his return, Lineker shared a selfie on Twitter with the caption: "Ah the joys of being allowed to stick to football." One viewer responded by calling him a "smug t..t," prompting Lineker's son George to defend his father. George replied: "Ahh bless you, so bitter," adding a crying laughing emoji.
Fans rushed to support the Lineker family, with one commenting: "Your Dad is an amazing person and that’s what eats these people up." Another noted the troll had gone to the effort of replying to a year-old tweet from George, writing: "The effort of these trolls."
Last weekend's BBC football coverage faced major disruption due to staff walkouts over Lineker's suspension. BBC director general Tim Davie announced an independent review of social media guidelines following the incident.
Lineker confirmed his return to the presenting role, tweeting: "However difficult the last few days have been, it simply doesn't compare to having to flee your home from persecution or war to seek refuge in a land far away." He added that the UK remains "a country of predominantly tolerant, welcoming and generous people."
