Man Utd legend Gary Neville launches attack on ‘scheming’ Premier League and demands change to football governance
GARY NEVILLE has accused the Premier League of operating in a ‘vacuum of distrust’ as he called for change in football governance.
The pundit launched his broadside after seeing league bosses wave through Newcastle’s £300million Saudi-led takeover.
There have been calls for chairman Gary Hoffman to stand down as civil war broke out over the controversial sale.
And Neville wrote on Twitter: “The Premier League are in a vacuum of distrust and hesitancy whilst all the time scheming / claiming they don’t require Independent Regulation.
“The ESL is still a threat and football governance globally let alone in the UK is broken. Enough is Enough!”
Rival clubs and fans have been up in arms over the blockbuster deal which saw previous owner Mike Ashley sell to the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
A heated meeting of all 19 other clubs and Premier League officials was held as bosses demanded to know how the Saudi buyout was greenlit so quickly.
And fans even protested outside St James’ Park ahead of the first game of the new regime - a 3-2 defeat by Tottenham on Sunday.
Most read in Football
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Objections have been raised over human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
Human rights body Amnesty international claimed the deal was an attempt to ‘sportswash (Saudi Arabia’s) appalling human rights record with the glamour of top-flight football.”
Neville also raised the alarm over the potential the European Super League (ESL) could resurface in reaction to new ownership on Tyneside.
Six Premier League clubs were part of plans to form a closed league of European giants earlier this year.
The idea collapsed under the weight of objections from fans and governments but Real Madrid and Barcelona have not yet given up on the idea completely.
⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford