Salford's game against Oldham on Saturday was disrupted by pitch invaders carrying England flags as a protest against Gary Neville. Neville criticised the "negative" use of the flag earlier this month as people in some communities hang Union Jack and St. George's cross flags from lampposts. The Sky Sports pundit believes the intent of those flying the flag is to sow division.
Getty Images News'Division created by angry, middle-aged white men'
Neville has questioned the intent of those hanging flags from lampposts, believing they are looking to sow division in communities at a time when when immigration is a major political issue. "I love my country, I love Manchester, I love England," Neville said in a video that was posted to social media earlier this month.
"But I've been building in this city for 15-20 years and nobody has put a Union Jack flag up, so why do you need to put one up now? Quite clearly, it's sending a message to everybody that there's something you don't like."
Neville also questioned whether the flags are a true representation of patriotism, adding: "I just kept thinking as I was driving home 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."
"The Union Jack flag used in a negative fashion is not right and I’m a proud supporter of England, of Great Britain, of our country and will champion it anywhere in the world as one of the greatest places to live, but I think we need to check ourselves, check ourselves and start to think about bringing ourselves back to a neutral point because we’re being pulled right and left and we don’t need to be pulled right and left at all."
Advertisement'There's nothing to be ashamed of about it'
However, Neville's comments didn't go well with a number of members of parliament, with Conversative leader Kemi Badenoch heavily critical of the former Manchester United defender. "I think that that's just disgraceful. The flags are the things that bring us together," she said.
"I love the Union flag. Everybody should be able to feel that the flag represents their home country. There's nothing to be ashamed of about it. It shouldn't be taken down. But that's Gary Neville."
Reform leader Nigel Farage echoed Badenoch's sentiments, and suggested he should be sacked by Sky Sports, adding: "I tell you what, this Gary Neville is so detached from reality, so detached from the average football fan, it is not true. I’m amazed that Sky Sports keep him on."
Getty Images SportProtests and arrests made at Salford game
And on Saturday, three men invaded the Peninsula Stadium pitch in protest aimed at Salford co-owner Neville. The men in question were wearing 'Gary Neville is a traitor' hoodies and waving England flags, while one tried to plant an England flag in the centre circle, before they were removed by stewards and police officers, and subsequently arrested by Greater Manchester Police.
Far right group Britain First have claimed responsibility for the incident, posting on X: "This afternoon, Britain First teamed up with local Salford patriots to protest the treachery of Gary Neville at a football match between Salford and Oldham." Neville was not in attendance for the game against Oldham.
Salford returned to winning ways
Despite the incident on Saturday, Salford managed to claim a 1-0 win over Oldham on home turf. Daniel Udoh's 14th-minute strike was enough to claim all the spoils as Salford ended a three-game losing streak.
Will Sutton was sent off for Oldham midway through the second half as the Ammies moved up to seventh in the table, and are now just four points behind league leaders Walsall, who lost at home to Barrow.
Neville, alongside former Manchester United teammates Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, agreed a deal to purchase Salford in 2014, before selling a 50% stake in club to Peter Lim. Lim left in 2024, while Neville and David Beckham led a consortium that completed a full takeover of the League Two side back in March.
Salford will hope to make it back-to-back league wins when they face Gillingham next weekend. The Gills are level on points with Salford, but above Karl Robinson's side on goal difference, after their 1-0 defeat at Grimsby on Saturday, a result that means they are now winless in four to further derail their promotion push.