Sky Sports face boycott and sack calls as Gary Neville explains in a LinkedIn post why he took down a Union Jack flag.
The former footballer turned pundit for the broadcaster explained in a video why he removed a Union Jack flag from one of his development sites, citing its use in a negative, divisive manner amid rising tensions and attacks on the Jewish community near his location in Manchester.
He condemned the division fuelled by “angry middle-aged white men” and the dangerous messaging linked to Brexit and hate speech.
Neville spoke of his patriotism, having represented England 85 times, but stressed the need for unity, drawing from his experience in diverse football teams.
He called for an end to promoting hate and restoring a country of “love, peace, and harmony.”
🚨GARY NEVILLE BLAMES MANCHESTER TERROR ATTACK ON BRITISH PATRIOTS PUTTING UP FLAGS 🇬🇧
“The division that’s being created is absolutely disgusting, mainly by angry middle aged white men”
– ADMITS he takes Union Jack flags down on his sites
What the hell is wrong with him? pic.twitter.com/UdOQ8tuqw5
— Basil the Great (@Basil_TGMD) October 5, 2025
In the video, he said: “So I’ve just left my house and walking into the office, waking up obviously, seeing the news last night and the news this morning dominated by the horrific attacks within the Jewish community just about a mile from here. I was driving to Salford City last night, going down Littleton Road, seeing 60, probably 50 or 60 Union Jack flags.
“And on the way back I went down the parallel road which is Bereni 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 um is absolutely disgusting.
“Mainly created by angry middle-aged white men who know exactly what they’re Funnily enough, on one of my development sites last week, there was a Union Jack flag put up and I took it down instantly. And some people might be watching this and thinking, well, Gary, you’re not very patriotic. I played 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, 20 years and there’s no one put a Union Jack flag up in the last 15 to 20 years, so why do you need to put one up now?
“It’s quite clearly sending a message to everybody that there is 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, of Great Britain, of our country, and we’re championing it anywhere in the world. It’s been one of the greatest places to live.
“But I think we need to check ourselves. We need to check ourselves and sort of start to think about, bring ourselves back to a neutral point. Because we’re being pulled right and left. We don’t need to be pulled right and left at all. I’ve always said this about, I played in a football team with a group of people from Manchester, a group of people from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, but also people from Africa, people from Asia, people from America, people from Europe, and we were a beautiful team, united as one.
“Brexit has had a devastating impact on this country, and the messaging is getting dangerous, extremely dangerous. All these idiots that are out there spreading hate speech in any form, and abuse in any form, we must stop promoting them. We must stop elevating our voices towards them. It needs to stop now and get back to a country of love, of peace, of harmony and become a team again.”
As mentioned, Sky Sports face boycott and sack calls as Gary Neville explains why he took down a Union Jack flag. His representatives have been approached by various media outlets for comment.
Joey Barton reacted by saying via Twitter: “Not the flex you think it is that Teabag… 🏴 You little pompous champagne socialist gimp! 🐕💨
“Obviously those white middle aged males again @GNev2
“You know, the ones that buy subscriptions for Sky Sports? Would love to debate you on this. 2 hours. Me and You. No edit. @rioferdy5 need to have a word with you as well. Miles off it the pair of you. 🐕💨
“The challenge has been laid down.
“Teabag and Rio have 24hrs to respond to this nonsense. 👇👇
“7.15pm tomorrow @Common_SensePod watchalong will be Harrogate vs Crewe.
“We can’t have these outrageous comments. This will be fully dissected on the show. 🇬🇧
“Surely, they cannot be that ignorant? 🐕💨 #ChampagneSocialistas”
Matt Le Tissier wrote: “Just seen Gary Neville’s video 😳😳😳😳😳 Watch the media go after Gary Neville after his video………. Oh no, he’s in the WEF club so they’ll leave him alone. 😉”
Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said: “So @GNev2 is asking why people are now flying the union flag in their towns.
“I’ll tell you why – people feel threatened and feel they have not been listened to for decades. 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 men that paid your wages.
“I believe in free speech but on this occasion just shut up. You are completely out of touch. And a bit of a hypocrite.
Reform UK Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire Dame Andrea Jenkyns added: “I don’t really swear, but W**k** comes to mind! The sneering by Gary Neville, he was happy for the ‘white men’ to pay his wages and buy his merchandise! He is Gary Lineker Mark Two.”
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin blasts Gary Neville for his “nonsense” video on “angry middle-aged white men creating division and flying flags”.
“You’ve just finished your career… Reform is standing up for all of those people that want to proudly fly the Union Jack!”@iromg pic.twitter.com/rwccLAoZeX
— Talk (@TalkTV) October 6, 2025
Who SUPPORTS BOYCOTTING Sky Sports!
After Gary Neville blames “middle-aged white men putting up Union Jack flags” on Synagogue Islamist terror attack. pic.twitter.com/bXhV0eRQ2l
— Benonwine (@benonwine) October 5, 2025
‘Gary has created more hatred.’
The Daily Star Former Editor Dawn Neesom says former Man United player Gary Neville’s online post ‘blaming’ the Islamist terror attack on ‘middle-aged white men’ for putting up Union Jack Flags in Manchester, creates more ‘anger and division’. pic.twitter.com/grR991KjOz
— GB News (@GBNEWS) October 6, 2025
🚨 NEW: CALLS TO BOYCOTT SKY SPORTS AFTER GARY NEVILLE’S OUTRAGEOUS COMMENTS 🇬🇧
Gary Neville has blamed “middle-aged white men putting up Union Jack flags” for the Manchester synagogue terror attack — sparking furious backlash across Britain.
🔴 Fans calling for a full Sky… pic.twitter.com/mS4S2NliIs
— British Intel (@TheBritishIntel) October 5, 2025
