Football fans ran on to the pitch to protest against Gary Neville during Salford City’s League Two clash with Oldham after his recent rant about the ‘negative’ use of the British flag.
Neville was heavily criticised earlier this month when he posted a video to social media in response to individuals from communities hanging Union Jack and St George’s cross flags on lampposts and outside properties in what is supposed to be a show of patriotism and pride.
‘I just kept thinking as I was driving home last night that we’re all being turned on each other,’ Neville had said.
‘And the division that’s being created is absolutely disgusting – mainly created by angry, middle-aged white men, who know exactly what they’re doing.’
Neville has come under fire for his comments, with the former England star dubbed a ‘traitor’ by some, while England fans also directed x-rated chants towards him during Tuesday’s clash against Latvia.
And the controversy continued on Saturday during Salford’s game against Oldham.
A fan planted a St George’s flag in the centre circle during Salford’s clash against Oldham in a protest against Gary Neville
Neville recently came under fire for his rant about the use of the British and St George’s flag
Neville is a co-owner of the Ammies and midway through the first half, one supporter charged on to the pitch and planted a St George’s flag in the centre circle, although he was quickly apprehended by stewards.
Another fan also attempted to join him, but he was halted shortly after jumping over the barriers.
Both were wearing white tops which read ‘Gary Neville is a traitor’, and they were joined by a third fan but it was unclear whether he made it onto the pitch.
Chants from supporters of ‘Gary Neville is a w****r’ could also be heard at Moor Lane, as the game was briefly delayed.
It was unclear whether Neville was in attendance at the match.
Neville’s original comments had come shortly after the horrific Manchester synagogue attack earlier this month when worshippers at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation were attacked by terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie.
The 50-year-old began his video, which he posted to LinkedIn, by saying: ‘Seeing the news last night and the news this morning dominated by the horrific attacks within the Jewish community, just a mile from here.’
The supporter was quickly apprehended by a steward, as was a fellow protester
They wore white tops which took aim at the Salford chief and said: ‘Gary Neville is a traitor’
But after pausing to take a breath as he walked down the street, Neville switched his attention to the raising of flags – a movement called ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ which has gripped swathes of Britain this year.
He continued: ‘When I was driving to Salford City last night, going down Littleton Road, I saw probably 50 or 60 Union Jack flags. And on the way back I went down the parallel road, Bury New Road, which has got the Jewish community right at its heart and they’re out on the streets, defiant, not hiding or in fear.
‘I just kept thinking as I was driving home last night that we’re all being turned on each other. And the division that’s being created is absolutely disgusting. Mainly created by angry, middle-aged white men, who know exactly what they’re doing.
‘Funnily enough on one of my development sites last week there was a Union Jack flag put up and I took it down instantly.’
Neville also hit back at claims he was unpatriotic, by adding: ‘I played for my country 85 times, I love my country. I love Manchester and I love England, but I’ve been building in this city for 15 to 20 years and there’s no one put a Union Jack flag up in the last 15 to 20 years, so why do you have to put one up now?
‘Quite clearly it’s sending a message to everybody that there’s something you don’t like.
‘The Union Jack flag being used in a negative fashion is not right and I’m a proud supporter of England, Great Britain, of our country, and I’ll champion it anywhere in the world as one of the greatest places to live.
‘But I think we need to check ourselves, bring ourselves back to a neutral point, because we’re being pulled right and left and we don’t need to be, at all.’
