BBC staff have expressed outrage over Gary Lineker's social media post featuring a rat emoji, with Jewish employees particularly upset at the corporation's failure to dismiss the presenter.
The Match of the Day host shared a pro-Palestine video on Instagram that included what critics describe as an "anti-Semitic" rat emoji, sparking a fresh controversy around his social media conduct.
The post, which has since been deleted, has led to growing calls for Lineker's dismissal.
The video in question was shared by Lineker on his Instagram story on Monday before being deleted by Tuesday morning.
Gary Lineker has sparked fresh controversy after sharing an Instagram video containing what critics have called an "antisemitic" rat emoji, with the 64-year-old pleading ignorance on the matterGETTYA spokesman for Lineker told Telegraph Sport that he "immediately deleted the video after learning of the symbolic meaning".
"Whilst viewing and reposting a video, Gary did not notice a rodent emoticon added by the author of the post," the spokesman added.
The rat symbol has historically been used by Nazis as a slur against Jewish people.
Jewish staff at the BBC have voiced their dismay through anonymous statements to the press.
One Jewish employee said: "It is quite simply disgusting that the BBC has not kicked Lineker out. His repeated offensiveness to Jewish people has clearly brought the BBC into disrepute."
They added: "The interpretation of Zionism he has shared is anti-Semitic and the fact that the BBC thinks it's acceptable is deeply upsetting to its Jewish staff, myself included."
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BBC Director General Tim Davie has responded to the growing controversy, acknowledging that mistakes like Lineker's "costs us".
Speaking at The Lowry arts centre in Salford, Mr Davie said: "The BBC's reputation is held by everyone and when someone makes a mistake, it costs us."
He emphasised the importance of staff following guidelines, adding: "I think we absolutely need people to be the exemplars of BBC values and follow our social media policies, simple as that."
READ MORE: Gary Lineker's spokesman responds to controversial Israel post as BBC face calls to sack presenter
Gary Lineker has deleted a controversial post about Israel on InstagramINSTAGRAMThis is not Lineker's first social media controversy. In January last year, he removed a post calling for Israel to be banned from international football.
The presenter, who earned £1.35 million in BBC pay last year, is set to leave his Match of the Day hosting duties at the end of this month.
He will continue to present FA Cup and international football until next summer.
One BBC insider said the corporation had missed a "perfect opportunity" to part ways with Lineker during a previous suspension.
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The Campaign Against Antisemitism has also weighed in, stating: "Gary Lineker is playing the public for fools by pretending to be one."
The campaign added: "The BBC has turned a blind eye for too long. It is long past time for him to go, and he must go now."
Danny Cohen, former director of BBC television, called the situation "utterly grim", questioning whether Tim Davie "tolerates the BBC's flagship presenters sharing content that has historically been used as an anti-Semitic slur".
