Gary Lineker's status as the most coherent voice of the anti-establishment British Left took a bit of a hit last week, as he crossed to the Dark Side and became the preening, bantering face of the World Cup draw from the Kremlin. Having been highly critical of FIFA in the past, Lineker nonetheless accepted their invite to host the draw.
Usually, Lineker refreshingly cuts through much of the bullshit around football, but he has a frustratingly naive view of doping in the game, along the lines of the old 'there's no drug to improve your touch' line. While that is true, players with huge levels of stamina and fitness can carve out a lucrative career in the sport. The assumption that the Beautiful Game is untainted by doping is wrong, and merely facilitates the taking of Performance Enhancing Drugs.
FIFA have this week shown an outrageous and depressing disregard to the problem. Vitaly Mutko, the Deputy Russian Prime Minister, and former sports minister, has been banned by the IOC for life for his role in Russia's state-sponsored doping programme.
In spite of this, Mutko remains the head of Russia's FA, and is also staying on as the head of the World Cup organising committee. Only last week, he shared a stage with Gianni Infantino ahead of the draw. In spite of overwhelming evidence, our old chums at FIFA remain unmoved. Whistleblower Gregory Rodchenkov claims that football was part of the doping programme, and a Daily Mail investigation earlier this year revealed that the entire Russian 2014 World Cup squad were being investigated for potential doping offences.
In light of all of these revelations, Lineker found himself responding to journalists to give his frustratingly naive views on doping in the sport, and a lack of knowledge about omerta.
Don’t see it. Had this conversation with so many players and none of them have heard of such goings on. If the only advantage is to help with bloody pressing then it would be a ridiculous risk for the most minimal advantage.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) December 5, 2017
Think about it, there are so many players in World football, many of them rejected, sold, dropped, disenchanted. There would be plenty of whistleblowers if doping were prevalent. It just doesn’t add up.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) December 6, 2017
Never said they wouldn’t. I may be naive, it’s not my area of expertise and I’m probably guilty of not wanting it to be the case as it would taint the sport I love. I’d be shocked if it was rife and genuinely, I’ve never experienced it.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) December 6, 2017
I’ve deleted that tweet. Wasn’t worded well. I may be naive, it’s not my area of expertise and I’m probably guilty of not wanting it to be the case as it would taint the sport I love. I’d be shocked if it was rife and genuinely, I’ve never experienced it.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) December 6, 2017
See Also: Graeme Souness Was Highly Critical Of Paul Pogba On TV3
