Gary Neville came face-to-face with the Everton fan who sparked his infamous 2005 red card at Goodison Park, when the ex-Manchester United defender booted a ball into the stands and accidentally hit a child
Gary Neville was sent off
Phil Dowd sent Gary Neville off against Everton at Goodison Park(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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Gary Neville came face to face with a long-forgotten figure from his past this week — an 'a**ehole' fan who hurled a ball at him 21 years ago. The incident led to him receiving a red card against Everton back in April 2005.
The former Manchester United full-back was shown a red card at Goodison Park after launching the ball into the crowd in a fit of rage and striking a child. Neville was given his marching orders with United already behind following Duncan Ferguson's goal.
The Red Devils were eventually reduced to nine men after Paul Scholes was dismissed following two bookings. United were powerless to prevent Everton from claiming fourth place and recording their first league win against them in over a decade.
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Yet the match is more likely to be remembered for the heated confrontation it sparked when Neville lost his temper. Neville's rage that day was ignited by a Toffees supporter who threw a ball at him from the terraces, and that very same fan was in The Overlap studio this week.
Calmer heads prevailed on this occasion after the guest's introduction to the Salford City owner, with his memory put to the test. As the fan entered the studio, the cogs visibly began turning in Neville's mind.
The pair first shook hands as the pundit tried to figure out who he was meeting. Neville could only stare in disbelief upon realising, before embracing the supporter and erupting into laughter.
Gary Neville was reunited with a fan who launched a football at him
Gary Neville embraced the fan(Image: Overlap)
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"Where have I met you before?" Neville said. "21 years ago this week, 2005, April. What was I doing? Did I boot the ball at you? You a**ehole. Oh my God. Come and sit in for a bit."
Neville then recalled: "21 years ago, I played at Goodison Park, and the ball went into the stand. I'm right-back, some guy - him - picks it up and launches the ball at me.
"It hits me there, in the stomach, and it bounces at my feet, and I just boot it at his head. But I missed him and hit a kid."
Gary Neville
Gary Neville was in disbelief at being reunited(Image: Overlap)
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Sir Alex Ferguson made no excuses for Neville at the time. He said: "You can't do what Gary did.
"I think Everton knew they had a weak referee and they exploited that to the full. But as far as Gary Neville is concerned, you can't kick the ball into the crowd, and he should know that.
"Intimidation from the crowd is always there, and we certainly had plenty of that, but Gary should never have done that."