WAYNE LINEKER has released a statement following “disgusting” chants that were directed at him.
Lineker was a guest at “Crouchfest”, a live podcast event with Peter Crouch, when fans in the crowd began chanting towards him.
Crouch and his co-host Chris Stark tried their best to change the subject while the vile chants were being hurled at the 61-year-old.
But with everyone taken aback by the crowd’s reaction Lineker was forced to sit and take the brunt of the abuse.
The younger brother of England legend Gary Lineker has now given his take on what happened in a statement on Instagram.
He wrote: “I know I’m usually a bit of a joker on social media but today doesn’t feel so fun!
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“So I was invited by my good friend Peter Crouch and Chris Stark to be a guest on their iconic event Crouchfest at Wembley Arena last night.
“As you can imagine I was blown away by the invitation to join them onstage and was so excited to be part of it!
“What should have been a bit of fun turned in to what I can only describe as a scene of Mob Mentality against me, thousands of people in unison calling me a ‘peado’ to be exact!
“Can you imagine that being you, your dad, your son, your brother, your mate or anyone you love and care about having to endure that on stage.”
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‘I also have a family, children and grandchildren’
The Ibiza club owner went on to reference his polarizing reputation, but condemned the nasty abuse he was targeted with.
He explained: “Love me or hate me living in party world at my age…but to call me something so disgusting is just completely and utterly devastating and the lowest level of wit, judgement and trolling.
“On the way to the event I was chatting to various groups of lads who were asking for photos and what I thought being genuine.
“The very same lads were calling me a peado 2 hours later… how did it end with a stadium of people all heckling me with such a vile term (football fans or not)? It’s called the Herd affect… (Google it).
“Luckily I am thick-skinned and see beyond their words and their actions, however some others are not and this kind of behaviour can affect them mentally and can take lives and has taken lives.
“I also have a family, children and grandchildren – how do you think this kind of trolling makes them feel?
“My final message on this would be; remember to be kind it really does not take much effort!”
Lineker was met with overwhelming support in the comments section of his social media post after setting it live on Sunday night.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
