Pundit Arena Because Sport Is Everything
Britain has, in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last day, voted to leave the European Union.
The result comes as a massive shock, not least given bookmakers were offering odds of 1/10 that Britain would vote Remain early yesterday, and Nigel Farage, the outspoken supporter of a Leave vote, even conceded defeat when polls closed on Thursday night.
The result has been greeted by carnage in financial markets in the UK and also abroad, as financiers struggle to make sense of the decision and uncertainly over Britain’s economic outlook reigns supreme. The political fall-out has been equally catastrophic, as British Prime Minister David Cameron announced he would be stepping down as leader within the next three months while blonde-haired bumbling Conservative Boris Johnson has been installed as the favorite to be his successor.
Strong Remain votes in both Scotland and Northern Ireland have seen another Scottish Independence Referendum described as ‘highly likely’ by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, while in Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness has wasted little time in calling for a border poll to be held on the unification of Ireland.
The football world has also reacted with shock, and at times outrage, and many players past and present were not in the mood for holding back once the result was confirmed.
Feel ashamed of my generation. We've let down our children and their children.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 24, 2016
I don't think UK needs to bother about immigration any more if you got recession over next few years. Be careful what you wish for
— Didi Hamann (@DietmarHamann) June 24, 2016
Ok which country are we all moving to?!?!
— Kevin Davies (@Kevin__Davies) June 24, 2016
.@GMB It looks like the biggest decision in the history of this country was made based on fake campaign and lies … https://t.co/8PWLqdnqLq
— Petr Cech (@PetrCech) June 24, 2016
A vote for Farage, Boris & a recession well done to the over 50's for thinking of the future!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) June 24, 2016
The young. Travel, embrace Europe, learn and work abroad, love abroad, show how great Britons are.
The old and insular have let you down.
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) June 24, 2016
Obama " You f@@@@d that up mate" https://t.co/bPTReBeT2V
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) June 24, 2016
so do we sell £s and buy €s or buy £s and sell €s,stick it all in $……or just go to sleep #Brexit
— Kevin Doyle (@KevinDoyle1983) June 24, 2016
Very, very surprised at the leave vote. Never saw that coming. Thought we'd remain. ?
— Joseph Barton (@Joey7Barton) June 24, 2016
Keep seeing words like catastrophic on my timeline – so why did vote out win?
— Philip Neville (@fizzer18) June 24, 2016
I have a feeling I'll wake up and this nightmare will be the reality! #EUref #stay
— Kevin Kilbane (@kdkilbane77) June 24, 2016
Didn't expect to wake up to that news. #EUref #Sceptical
— michael owen (@themichaelowen) June 24, 2016
Some players perhaps got slightly carried away. James McClean, befitting his no holes attitude on the pitch, re-iterated the calls of Martin McGuinness for a border poll to be held on a united Ireland. The prompt deletion of his account suggests he has had second thoughts about this one.
James McClean's Twitter account has been deleted after he sent this: pic.twitter.com/W5XHVRTjVh
— Rob McDonagh (@RobMcD) June 24, 2016
All sensible and serious grievances to have in the aftermath of such a tumultuous result, but the football community has not totally lost its sense of humour:
After David Cameron resigns as PM, there's only one man for the job…https://t.co/wOkhHW8W3m
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) June 24, 2016
If the other options are Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson, I’m sure Giggsy would have more supporters for the job than he may have previously expected.
