Gary Neville is advocating for a "disruptive response" within football to better support players who are victims of racism. His call to action comes in the wake of several recent incidents of reported racist abuse directed at players.
Neville's comments were made at an event in London to launch Kick It Out's new 'Football United' five-year strategy on Thursday. He highlighted a specific instance where Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo was allegedly abused by a Liverpool supporter during the Premier League's opening weekend at Anfield. The game was temporarily paused while the incident was reported to officials, and a 47-year-old man was later arrested and bailed by Merseyside Police. In July, a friendly match involving Neville's Salford City was abandoned after a Salford player was allegedly racially abused by a York supporter.
Neville expressed his frustration with the typical responses to racist incidents. He anticipates the usual sequence of events: a club statement condemning racism, followed by a note that the matter is in the hands of the police, and then silence for months. He stresses the importance of moving beyond the standard response, which includes education and inclusion initiatives, and to start considering consequences for offenders.
Neville poses critical questions about accountability and punishment, such as whether the offender's employer should be notified, whether the club should face further sanctions, and whether players should continue playing under such circumstances. He is pushing for a conversation that goes beyond the norm, as he observes the same responses recurring repeatedly.
In the past, Neville has expressed regret for not having fought harder against racism during his own playing career. Following the death of George Floyd in 2020, Neville stated that words and campaigns are insufficient to combat racism and that actions are necessary. He advocated for a "giant leap" forward, emphasizing the need for education, protocols, and processes to reverse existing trends. He admitted that he and his teammates "put racial abuse in the same category as the abuse we would receive for playing for Manchester United or England" and that he is "ashamed" he did not fight hard enough against it.
Neville has also called for structural changes within football, including equal representation in boardrooms and coaching positions. He has criticized the symbolic gestures, such as wearing a Kick It Out T-shirt once a season, as insufficient and has urged for substantial change not only in football but also in society.
