Three people have been arrested by Greater Manchester Police following an incident at Saturday’s match between Salford City and Oldham Athletic. The League Two match was halted when two pitch invaders wearing white hoodies with the message “Gary Neville is a traitor” burst onto the field waving English flags.
Security personnel quickly removed the intruders from the pitch and allowed the match to resume. Salford co-owner Neville has previously spearheaded major acquisitions for the club as part of a consortium that included David Beckham. Britain First claimed on social media that they were behind the incident.
Mr Neville, a former Manchester United player and current Sky Sports pundit, previously sparked outrage by claiming that “angry middle-aged white men” were to blame for stirring up divisions in Britain. He accused them of using the flag in a “negative way”.
He said, “I love my country, I love Manchester, I love England, but I’ve been building in this city for 15, 20 years and no one has ever put up a Union Jack flag, so why should I put one up now?”
“Frankly, this sends a message to everyone that there’s something we don’t like about them. On the car ride home, I kept thinking, do we all hate each other?
“And the divisions that are being created are truly disgusting and are being created primarily by angry middle-aged white men who know exactly what they are doing.”
Protests had previously taken place outside a hotel football facility near Old Trafford.
Mr Neville, 50, was criticized for comments made by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. She said: “I think it’s just a shame. The flag is what unites us. I love the Union flag.
“Everyone should feel that the flag represents their country. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. It shouldn’t be taken down, but that’s Gary Neville.”
Reform leader Nigel Farage called for Mr Neville to be sacked from his role at Sky.
“He’s blaming middle-aged white men, the people who actually pay Sky Sports and pay their salaries,” he said.
“He is blaming them for all the divisions, not some evil, crazy, crazy Islamist who tried to kill innocent people.
“I’m telling you, this Gary Neville is so out of touch with reality and out of touch with the average football fan that it’s not true. I’m surprised Sky Sports are keeping him around.”
