Gary Neville was caught in an awkward hot mic moment during Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football coverage of Leeds United’s Premier League clash with Everton
Gary Neville was left embarrassed after being caught in a live television gaffe during the inaugural Monday Night Football of the new season.
The former Manchester United and England defender was positioned alongside Jamie Carragher and host David Jones for Sky Sports’ opening Monday evening fixture of the fresh campaign, as Leeds United welcomed Everton to Elland Road.
Moments before kick-off, whilst Sky awaited the two teams emerging from the tunnel, Neville was oblivious that the programme had returned from a commercial break. The former Red Devils skipper demonstrated that old rivalries die hard – and in a cringe-worthy hot microphone incident, shared his feelings with the entire viewing public.
As Leeds supporters were shown on screen, buzzing with anticipation ahead of their Premier League comeback following a two-year absence, Neville was heard on Sky Sports declaring: “They [Leeds] are the one group of fans I wouldn’t want to go anywhere near.”
At that instant, Jones was spotted clutching his arm, before Neville, seemingly realising he was broadcasting live, chuckled and asked: “Did you hear that?”
Just as Jones began delivering an apology, Neville promptly echoed the contentious remark, prompting Jones to retort: “I don’t think they want you anywhere near them!”
Gary Neville’s criticism of Leeds United is nothing new, despite his acknowledgement that the intense atmosphere makes it a challenging venue for visiting teams, reports the Mirror.
He has previously confessed: “I’d have never have played for [Manchester] City, Liverpool or Leeds. Not in a million years.
“I don’t feel anything bad towards the players who did that, but me personally, I couldn’t have done it. The rivalry is just too much.”
On the field, Leeds clinched a 1-0 victory over David Moyes’ Everton, thanks to a late penalty from new recruit Lukas Nmecha after James Tarkowski was deemed to have committed a handball inside the penalty box. Leeds United manager Daniel Farke said before kick-off that his team would stick to the attack plan that took them back into the top flight – and was true to his word.
Despite being on the pitch for less than ten minutes, the former Wolfsburg forward confidently slotted his penalty into the corner of the goal.
Everton’s new loan signing Jack Grealish made a 20-minute appearance as a substitute in an attempt to inject spark into a lacklustre display, with the visitors taking 53 minutes to muster a shot on target.
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