Gary Neville has been banned from working for Sky Sports at Nottingham Forest and David Beckham has responded to the news
Comments
Sport
David Beckham Gary Neville Nottingham Forest
David Beckham has had his say on Gary Neville's fall-out with Nottingham Forest
David Beckham made light of the situation after it emerged that Gary Neville has been barred from covering Nottingham Forest matches for Sky Sports. The club has denied Neville accreditation for their season finale at home to Chelsea on Sunday, following Neville's public critique of Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Neville was set to provide co-commentary on the crucial engagement, which will play a pivotal role in determining Champions League qualification.
However, he will now be sidelined from the broadcasting team as Forest have taken a stand after Neville lambasted Marinakis after their match against Leicester earlier this month.
Marinakis entered the pitch to converse with Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo when player Taiwo Awoniyi exited the match due to injury, leaving his side with only 10 players during the 2-2 draw.
Although Awoniyi was later confirmed to have endured a grievous injury after a collision with the goalpost, Neville hastily criticised Marinakis in the aftermath, reports the Mirror.
Taking to social media, Neville wrote: "Scandalous from that Forest owner. Nuno should go and negotiate his exit tonight with him! The Forest fans, players and manager do not deserve that."
In response, Forest has contacted Sky Sports to express their displeasure formally and have consequently declined Neville entry to their ground this Sunday.
Beckham cheekily referenced Manchester United's historic 8-1 victory over Nottingham Forest in a response to Neville's Instagram post about the matter, although he appeared to have miscounted the scoreline. Beckham wrote: "Must of been something to do with that 7 - 1 game back in the day," accompanied by a laughing emoji.
He was alluding to the memorable match in February 1999 when United thrashed Forest, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer netting four times and both Neville and Beckham featuring in the starting line-up during the season United clinched an unprecedented treble.
Neville later took to social media to express his dismay at being denied access to the City Ground for commentary duties. "I was contacted by Sky Sports earlier on in the week and told that I would be commentating at the City Ground on Sunday for the Nottingham Forest v Chelsea match," he shared.
"I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I've had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage."
He continued, highlighting his long-standing role as a co-commentator: "I've dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action."
Neville concluded with a critical note on the club's decision: "Personally, I think it's disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision. Whilst they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it's symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club.
"I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football."