Gary Neville- Salford City Owner- faces criticism after Union Jack comments

Former professional footballer and England International Gary Neville has caused some uproar with his comments over the use of Union Jacks over recent months.  

Neville took to LinkedIn in a video where he spoke about the recent struggles within the Jewish community after Thursday’s Manchester synagogue attack.  

Credit: Gary Neville (Linkedin)

In the video he says,

“We’re all being turned on each other and the division that’s being created is absolutely disgusting, mainly created by angry middle age white men who know exactly what they’re doing.”  

Neville goes onto say

“On one of my development sites there was a Union Jack flag put up, and I took it down instantly”  

These comments have led to criticism from people online after the Raise the Colours  movement went viral over summer, causing widespread vandalism and graffiti across the UK, Neville mentions he saw Union Jacks across Salford.

Credit: Matt Brown

Reform MP Lee Anderson wrote a statement on X that included

“You had no problem in playing in front of the England flag. And the middle-aged English men you talk about are the same type of men that paid your wages.”  

(Credit @LeeandersonMP_ on X)  

Neville was supported however by some users on X with one user posting

“So Gary Neville has upset some intellectually challenged, angry, white, middle-aged men by calling for compassion and unity? Absolutely smashing stuff, we need more like him.”  

Another User says

“Gary Neville upsetting all the right people. The people who are simply too thick to decipher what he's actually saying.”  

It’s clear that the Salford City owner has certainly caused conversation over his comments and political commentary is no new thing for the pundit. Having previously posted on X back in 2022

“Boris Johnson’s tenure will be viewed as one of the most catastrophic periods in the United Kingdom’s history! I have no doubt. An era of selfishness, greed , divisiveness and lies!”