A Salford City fan has hit out at Gary Neville after the former England footballer accused "angry, middle-aged white men" of fostering division in society.
Speaking to GB News, Hugh Wright said he was “disgusted” and “offended” by Neville’s remarks, saying he showed “contempt” for ordinary people in Salford.
The former footballer sparked controversy by suggesting the flag had been used as a weapon to create “divisions” within Britain by “angry middle-aged white men who know exactly what they're doing".
In a video posted to social media, Neville said that he had demanded a Union Jack flag be "instantly" taken down at one of his property developments in Manchester, questioning why anyone would need to display the flag now when they had not done so in the previous 15 to 20 years.
Hugh Wright said he is 'disgusted' by the former footballer's comments
|GB NEWS
Speaking to GB News, Mr Wright said: "I must say I’m disappointed and disgusted by Gary Neville’s comments. I just can’t really understand them, to be honest.
"To imply that the attack on the synagogue in Heaton Park had anything to do with the flags people have been putting up around Salford and Manchester, it’s just stupid, if not offensive.
"He clearly has no idea what he’s talking about. He should stick to football.”
GB News host Nana Akua said: “It does seem misguided of him to conflate the two, but I suppose, if I’m being fair, he’s trying to make a wider point about racism, that’s the connection he’s trying to make.
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"The problem is, that implies people carrying the English flag are potential racists, and that’s where it becomes an issue.”
The fan said: "That is the problem with it, isn't it? I mean, what he said was so baffling that you have to stretch to try to justify it. You have to basically guess what on earth he's on about."
He added: "We know who carried out the synagogue attack. He wasn’t a middle-aged white man, he wasn’t a fan of Nigel Farage, and he wasn’t someone putting up flags in Salford.
"So the idea that the two are in any way related is ridiculous and offensive.
“The English flag represents the country I was born in, the country my parents and ancestors were born in.
"It’s a beautiful flag for a beautiful place, one of the greatest countries in history. It’s not divisive to celebrate that or to love your country.
Gary Neville posted the controversial video on social media, claiming divisions are being created by 'angry middle-aged white men'
| LINKEDIN“I’ll admit there are some parts of Salford that aren’t as nice as they could be, but if you go around now, you see it daubed with England flag after England flag.
“And it’s quite moving, really, that people — even if they live in the rougher areas — still find something to love about the place they live.
“That’s what pride looks like, not what Gary Neville, sitting in his mansion, thinks it is.”