Gary Lineker Joins Cultural Figures Supporting Author Sally Rooney
Former England footballer Gary Lineker has joined cultural figures in signing a letter supporting Irish author Sally Rooney after her books were halted in the United Kingdom over ties to Palestine Action.
Former England footballer Gary Lineker has once again found himself at the center of a political controversy regarding Israel. On Wednesday, Lineker joined dozens of cultural figures in signing a public letter supporting Irish author Sally Rooney. The open letter, published in the New Statesman magazine, protests the cessation of Rooney's book distributions in the United Kingdom following her support for the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by British authorities.
Cultural Figures Sign Open Letter
Lineker joined a long list of prominent personalities who signed the letter, including actors Paul Mescal, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Tilda Swinton, alongside three Nobel Prize in Literature laureates: Anne Carson, Annie Ernaux, and J.M. Coetzee.
"Sally Rooney is a writer, not a terrorist. Her books must be available to the public," the letter states.
The signatories argue that halting book distributions due to counter-terrorism legislation violates fundamental principles of freedom of speech. They called on the government to alter its course and amend the legislation.
Background of the Publishing Ban
The controversy began after Rooney announced her intention to channel royalties from her bestselling novels to Palestine Action. The group was outlawed in the United Kingdom in July 2025, making financial support punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Consequently, publisher Faber announced it would stop supplying new copies of her books to the British market because the law prevents royalty payments to the author.
For Lineker, who has repeatedly criticized Israel, this adds to a series of controversies, including his departure from the BBC earlier in 2025 over social media posts.
