Yahoo News Sky Sports issue statement after Gary Neville's Nottingham Forest 'mafia gang' slur
Sky Sports have issued an apology to Nottingham Forest for pundit Gary Neville’s “mafia gang” slur. Neville made the remark last season in the wake of a furious social media statement posted by the Reds following defeat at Everton. It led to Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis confirming a legal letter had been sent to Sky.
The broadcaster has now issued a statement addressing Neville’s comments. They say they have held talks with the former Manchester United man about his choice of language.
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The statement from Sky said: “In response to a Nottingham Forest statement outlining their grievances with PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) following their match with Everton on 21 April, Gary Neville, commenting on Super Sunday, strongly criticised Nottingham Forest's approach.
“Sky Sports have discussed with Gary the language used and its potential to cause offence. Gary has agreed not to use the same or similar terms in future coverage. Sky Sports apologises to Nottingham Forest for any offence caused by this language.”
The Reds were left fuming after three penalty appeals were waved away during their 2-0 loss at Goodison Park. It led to the club questioning the integrity of VAR Stuart Attwell in an angry tweet after the full-time whistle, claiming he was a fan of Luton Town, who were one of Forest’s relegation rivals at the time.
Responding to the X post by Forest, Neville had said: "It’s like a mafia gang statement. I mean, honestly, what the hell are they playing at?
"It’s like a petulant child, it’s embarrassing. And some of those things they’re saying in there, the suggestion of some sort of inferring of cheating because there’s an official in VAR in Stockley Park who’s a Luton fan is a scandal, and they will pay for that."
Forest had posted: "Three extremely poor decisions - three penalties not given - which we simply cannot accept,” it read. "We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game but they didn't change him. Our patience has been tested multiple times. NFFC will now consider its options."
Marinakis responded to Neville’s comments in an interview later in the season. Confirming lawyers had been in touch with Sky, he said: “We made this announcement because we tried to protect and then there is a big fuss - but that was made from Sky Sports and specific guys.
“Neville is subject to FA rules too, surely – he is a director of Salford FC. His comment about the club was outrageous, but the FA have done nothing. I need to be careful - because our lawyers have already been in contact with Sky regarding Neville and this is not over yet. The comments and words he used were inappropriate, didn't correspond with reality and harmed people.”
