Gary Neville's biggest controversies after Sky Sports presenter raged at 'angry, middle-aged white men'

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 06/10/2025

- 10:52

The former Manchester United captain made the remarks following the death of two Jewish worshippers at a synagogue in Manchester

Gary Neville has spent most of his life speaking his mind.

For years it was to full-backs, wingers and referees; now it’s to the nation.


But the former Manchester United and England defender’s habit of stepping beyond football has again landed him in hot water — this time over remarks about “angry middle-aged white men” and Union Jack flags.

The 50-year-old Sky Sports pundit posted a video on LinkedIn in which he urged Britain to reject “division” after two Jewish worshippers were killed in a terrorist attack in Manchester.

But midway through the clip, his tone shifted.

Neville condemned the “angry, middle-aged white men” who he said were stoking hatred and referenced the sudden appearance of Union Jacks and St George’s flags across Manchester.

“When I was driving to Salford City last night,” he said. “I saw probably 50 or 60 Union Jack flags… I took one down at one of my sites instantly.”

The video, intended as a plea for unity, was received very differently.

Many have called it tone-deaf, accusing Neville of politicising tragedy and unfairly stereotyping ordinary Britons.

JUST IN: Sky Sports facing boycott after Gary Neville's rant about 'angry middle-aged white men' sparks fury

Gary Neville

Gary Neville has found himself in hot water after his comments on LinkedIn following the death of two Jewish worshippers at a synagogue in Manchester

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SKYSPORTS/LINKEDIN/BBC

Football fans threatened to cancel their Sky Sports subscriptions unless the broadcaster severed ties with him.

Reform UK MP Lee Anderson branded him “out of touch,” while others told him simply to “stick to football.”

Neville stressed his patriotism and said: “I played for my country 85 times. I love England.

“But the Union Jack being used in a negative way isn’t right.”

It is far from the first time Neville has ignited national debate, however.

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Gary Neville

Gary Neville said 'the division that's being created is absolutely disgusting' in his controversial video

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In the 14 years since he retired from football, he has transformed himself from right-back to political lightning rod - sometimes sparking controversy as a result.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Neville accused the Government of failing working-class communities, calling the response “disgraceful.”

He clashed repeatedly with Conservative politicians, labelling Boris Johnson “a man who fuelled racism in this country.”

The former England vice-captain also became a vocal supporter of the Labour Party, appearing at rallies and publicly backing Sir Keir Starmer.

He once admitted that footballers “have a platform — and a duty to use it,” a view that has divided his audience.

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Ian Hislop

Gary Neville was savaged by Ian Hislop when appearing on Have I Got News For You after his appearance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

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BBC

His activism has not been confined to Westminster politics.

In 2022, while working for ITV at the Qatar World Cup, he attacked the Gulf state’s treatment of migrant workers and LGBTQ+ people.

Critics accused him of hypocrisy for accepting a lucrative punditry role in the very country he was condemning.

Neville replied that “refusing to go” would have achieved nothing, arguing it was better to highlight injustices while on air.

He was even mocked when he appeared on Have I Got News For You, with Ian Hislop giving him a tough time.

Gary Neville Valencia

Gary Neville struggled during his time in charge of Valencia and was sacked after winning only 10 of his 28 matches in charge

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GETTY

Earlier still, he ruffled feathers within football itself.

As co-owner of Salford City — part of the so-called “Class of ’92” group that also includes Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David Beckham — he has faced criticism for his club’s rapid rise through England’s lower leagues, accused by some of trying to buy success.

Neville dismisses that charge, pointing to Salford’s investment in local infrastructure and youth coaching.

Even his brief managerial stint at Valencia in 2015 ended on a sour note.

Hired mid-season despite no prior experience in Spain, he won only 10 of 28 matches before being sacked, later calling the job “the most brutal learning experience” of his life.

As a player, he was one of English football’s most combative characters, and never far from confrontation.

His loyalty to Manchester United often tipped into open hostility toward rivals, nowhere more so than at Old Trafford in 2006, when he sprinted the length of the pitch to celebrate Rio Ferdinand’s late winner directly in front of the Liverpool supporters.

Arms pumping and face contorted, it became one of the Premier League’s defining images.

The FA fined him £5,000 for the gesture, though Neville later insisted he “wouldn’t change a thing.”

He had earlier been accused of stoking tensions during England duty too, after reportedly calling for a players’ strike at the 2002 World Cup over commercial image rights — a move that angered both the Football Association and several of his own team-mates.

Gary Neville

Gary Neville wanted England players to go on strike in 2002 in a row over image rights

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PA

He later reflected that his stance was “about fairness, not rebellion,” but the episode underlined his instinct to challenge authority, even inside the England camp.

Neville also wanted England players to go on strike at Euro 2004, too, after Rio Ferdinand was banned for missing a drugs test.

Discussing it with MUTV, United's in-house television channel, he fumed: "It was an injustice - they could have done it to any of us next time.

"I couldn't believe the sentence and it sickened me, to be honest.

"All you ask for, whether you are at school or at work, is to be treated like the next guy."

Gary Neville

Gary Neville also wanted England players to strike at Euro 2004 after Rio Ferdinand was slapped with a huge ban by the FA

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PA

Neville has long shown he isn't afraid to mince his words.

That's something that has made him a popular pundit - but also a divisive one as well.