Yahoo News Gary Neville: Ofcom not pursuing complaints over Qatar comments
The former footballer called Qatari working conditions 'abhorrent'
Ofcom have confirmed they will not pursue complaints against Gary Neville relating to comments he made about Qatar during the World Cup.
Neville made a number of unscripted remarks during ITV's broadcast of the World Cup final relating to politics in the gulf country and also the UK.
Ofcom said the remarks — which aired live - were part of "a wider discussion about policies and actions of the Qatari Government, which gave due weight to a range of views".
Read more: Gary Neville calls out Boris Johnson over racist abuse of England players
The former Manchester United footballer had called working conditions in Qatar "abhorrent" as the country came under criticism for the number of deaths of migrant workers during the building of stadiums for the tournament.
Neville also attacked the British government and accused them of "demonising" striking workers in the rail and healthcare industries.
Talking about the treatment of workers around the world, Neville said: "It's abhorrent and we should detest low pay, detest low pay, poor accommodation and poor working conditions. That is something we can never ever accept in this region or in any region."
He added: "It is just worth mentioning that we've got a current government in our country, who are demonising rail workers, ambulance workers and terrifyingly, nurses. So in our country, we've got to look at workers' rights but certainly where football goes now, we have to pick up on workers' rights wherever we go because people have to be equally treated."
Arguing for better conditions and better pay, Neville concluded by saying: "We can't have people being paid a pittance to work, we can't have people in accommodation which is unsavoury and disgusting, we can't have that. It shouldn't happen with the wealth that exists and it shouldn't happen in our country that our nurses are having to fight for an extra pound or two pounds."
Ofcom received 705 complaints from viewers who objected to Neville's comments.
Ofcom also said they had "given guidance to ITV reminding them of their due impartiality obligations" and added: "ITV has assured us that presenters and studio guests will be reminded of these rules."
Watch below: PM hits out at football pundit Neville after TV criticism
