Leicester City’s shock Premier League title run has been presented as the ultimate Cinderella story, but there are some blemishes in the fairytale.
Jamie Vardy has epitomised both sides of this throughout the season. He set a record for most consecutive Premier League games with a goal when he fired past Manchester United at the end of last year, but his actions in August have meant not everyone has been able to get behind him.
The Leicester striker was filmed using racial slurs when addressing an Asian man in a casino, and was fined by his club and warned of his future conduct by the FA.
While the incident has largely been forgotten about in the general conversation around the former Fleetwood forward, it was raised once again by The Guardian in a recent interview with Leicester City legend Gary Lineker.
When asked about the incident, the Match of the Day presenter gave a response which has angered some.
“People make mistakes. They say stupid things. He did it and he apologised,” Lineker said. “I think it depends on how you say it, and where you say it. But I know footballers, and they are generally really not racist at all.
“I’ve heard things said on football pitches that players clearly don’t mean, whether it’s racism or just an abusive comment in the heat of the moment.
“Fundamentally, footballers don’t look around a dressing room and think: ‘He’s a black player … he’s Japanese.’ They don’t think like that. They think: ‘He’s a good player, he can help, he’s not very good.’ I’m not trying to defend anyone’s actions but there are going to be isolated incidents because it’s an emotive, passionate sport.”
Needless to say, not everyone agreed with Lineker’s assessment of the situation.
Gary Lineker, when asked about Vardy's racist remarks said "I think it depends on how you say it and where you say it." WHAT THE FUCK!
— Rob C (@RobC0810) April 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/robbro7/status/719592963253395458
Gary Lineker effectively excuses Vardy's racism on the basis that "people say stupid things".
— David Phillips (@lovefutebol) April 11, 2016
Lineker on racism and Vardy. Sorry mate, but racism doesn’t depend on ‘how you say it and where you say it’. pic.twitter.com/fbTNZUkYEB
— Sean (@SeanWalsh_97) April 11, 2016
@SeanWalsh_97 Calling a deliberate racist attack a mistake is not only wrong, it's demeaning to Vardy's victim and potentially dangerous
— Will 🚾🏆 (@ohlookitswill_) April 11, 2016
