Gary Lineker forced to say sorry after offending Muslim footballers

Former England international and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has been forced to apologise after describing two Muslim footballers as 'eating grass'.

Montpellier duo Karim Ait-Fana and Younes Belhanda celebrated a goal by kneeling down and bowing their heads in an Islamic prayer position during their Champions League clash against Schalke 04.

Lineker, who was commentating on the game for Al Jazeera TV at the time, said: "A terrific effort from Karim Ait-Fana, who scored from just outside the area and then ate grass . . . as you do."

The ex-Tottenham Hotspur star is believed to have angered viewers and later claimed that he was not aware that it was a religious gesture.