Diego Maradona death: Gary Lineker slammed for ‘comfort in hands of God’ comment, fans say ‘not time for puns’
In the flurry of tributes that filled up Twitter on Wednesday following the news of Argentine football legend, Diego Maradona's death, one of them came from Gary Lineker, the English former professional footballer who took to the platform to pay his respects.
"Reports from Argentina that Diego Armando Maradona has died. By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully, he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiego," his tweet read, except, fans didn't take kindly to his message. Some felt the remark was made in relation to the 'Hand of God' goal Maradona scored at the 1986 World Cup.
Reports from Argentina that Diego Armando Maradona has died. By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God. #RipDiego
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 25, 2020
"Not sure you are the best judge of a footballer, he beat more players in one mazy run than you did in your whole career," read one of the tweets. This was seconded by another who wrote: "Not the time to make puns Gary"
Not sure you are the best judge of a footballer, he beat more players in one mazy run than you did in your whole career.
— föxintheböx2001 ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 (@foxinthebox2010) November 25, 2020
Brazilian journalist Eduardo Monsanto slammed Lineker as well in a reply that read: "Show some respect. Being an asshole does not fit you, or so I thought." To which, Lineker had a ready response: "Sorry, where's the disrespect?"
Show some respect. Being an asshole does not fit you, or so I thought.
— Eduardo Monsanto (@DuduMonsanto) November 25, 2020
";Hand of god' comment Gary. My young daughter even picked that out as disrespectful & she's barely old enough to even know of him," came a fan reply. Some felt it was just a matter of how people received it. "This is a classic example of....when we read something we can read it in different ways depending on audience. To me that looked like a perfectly acceptable tweet, But I can see where ppl could read it in a different context Moral of story : chill out everyone #ripmaradona"
"Hand of god" comment Gary. My young daughter even picked that out as disrespectful & she's barely old enough to even know of him.
— LikeAVirgil 🔴🇪🇺 (@virgil_like) November 25, 2020
This is a classic example of....when we read something we can read it in different ways depending on audience. To me that looked like a perfectly acceptable tweet,But I can see where ppl could read it in a different context
— Imy 💙 #pleasestaysafe #wearfacemasks (@HussainImy) November 25, 2020
Moral of story : chill out everyone #ripmaradona
According to Daily Mail, Maradona and Lineker have a history together after the latter tracked the legendary world cup winner to Buenos Aires in 2006 for the BBC documentary, 'When Lineker met Maradona'. Coming back, there was some support for Lineker as well. "Where's the disrespect? Couldn't have put it better than Gary Lineker's words. From a fellow international footballer who graced the same fields as him. Nothing but class & respect from Lineker as always," the tweet read.
Where's the disrespect ? Couldn't have put it better than Gary Lineker's words. From a fellow international footballer who graced the same fields as him. Nothing but class & respect from Lineker as always 🙏
— Eoin Pól Ó Callaghan (@Eoin_Pol) November 25, 2020
What are your thoughts on Lineker's tweet and the outrage that followed?