Fans are left baffled by ‘mad’ decision to let Gary Neville commentate on his OWN team for Salford City’s Carabao Cup clash against Leeds on Sky Sports – after pundit wildly celebrated Matt Smith’s opener
- Fans questioned why Gary Neville commentated on Salford’s clash with Leeds
- Ex-Man United star has co-owned club with Class of 92 teammates since 2014
- Would Mohamed Salah ‘do the dirty’ on Liverpool by leaving? And what about Man United ‘diving’?: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off , Mail Sport’s new podcast
Fans have taken to social media to question why Gary Neville was selected to commentate as Salford defeated Leeds on penalties in the EFL Cup.
The former Manchester United defender was a co-commentator for their Sky Sports broadcast of the second round clash on Tuesday evening.
But the decision raised eyebrows online, given the 48-year-old’s association with the League Two side.
Neville has been a co-owner of the Ammies since 2014 alongside fellow former United stars David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs Paul Scholes and Phil Neville, and until October worked as the club’s CEO.
Matt Smith headed the hosts into the lead against their Championship opposition at the Peninsula Stadium, and Neville couldn’t hide his excitement, cheering into the microphone.
Fans have questioned why Gary Neville was selected to provide commentary for Salford’s EFL Cup clash with Leeds
The pundit and his former Man United teammates have been co-owners of the League Two side since 2014
Neville celebrated wildly on commentary as Matt Smith headed the hosts into the lead
Neville’s inclusion in the commentary booth proved a controversial one online, with fans questioning whether an owner could be impartial while commentating on his own team’s game.
One fan wrote: ‘Bit mad having Gary Neville doing the commentary for a team that he part owns lol’
Another agreed: ‘Gary Neville commentating on Salford City v Leeds.
‘So not only does his own club get the TV money that could have gone to, say, Tranmere v Leicester, but he also gets paid to commentate on it.
‘Double your money I’m sure that decision was well thought through’
A further fan wrote: ‘I don’t like former players commentating on their teams games but it’s not the end of the world.
‘Gary Neville on co-comms on the game involving a team he owns is ridiculous.’
Another added: ‘Ex-Man United player and co-owner of Salford City Gary Neville being on co-commentary for a match between Salford City and Leeds United is… weird?’
Social media users expressed their views on the decision to have Neville on commentary
After trailing throughout much of the game, Leeds struck back through Pascal Struijk on 76 minutes to send the game to penalties.
Georginio Rutter missed for the visitors but Connor McLennan was unable to convert Salford’s fifth penalty with the shootout going to sudden death.
Jamie Shackleton was next to miss for the Championship side, with Ossama Ashley going on to convert the shootout’s twentieth spot kick to secure the win for Salford.
