I think those are mixed a bit if we're going serious. It could have been a finger to those

who criticised him for performing in Russia in the current political climate. That's the favourite reason right now, as he sang "I'm doing this for free" (which apparently was a change in the lyrics or suffern) just before he flipped the bird.

Of course, if that were the case I am not too sympathetic since clearly it is worth its weight in gold in publicity and potential boost to his waning musical popularity. Might even have been part of the plan - he was trending on Twitter even in the Netherlands, and within minutes both the Belgian and Dutch TV coverage of the World Cup were talking about Robbie Williams rather than the game.

The suggestion that the finger was a gesture to Putin (who was not yet in his seat anyway) based on Robbie's admirable support for LGBT rights and Russia's abuse of them, seems to me to be unlikely simply because if that was the intention, it was completely ineffective. Nobody knew what it was about, the gesture was not a notably symbolic one, and it was directed at the people watching the ceremony on TV, not those in the stadium. So if it was a protest supporting LGBT rights it was a pretty s**t one.

Posted By: Steve in Holland, Jun 14, 20:22:40