Gary Neville slams BBC for their treatment of brother Phil - 'Lamb into the lions' den'

Gary Neville has hit out at the BBC for their treatment of his brother, Phil, during the early stages of his media career. Gary, who retired in 2011, was quickly ushered into the world of broadcasting and is now one of English football's most respected pundits.

After his own retirement in 2013, Phil decided to follow in his older brother's footsteps, just as he'd done at Manchester United and with England. Phil began working for the BBC and was part of their commentary team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

But unlike Gary's encouraging start - mainly as a pundit as opposed to being a co-commentator - the former Everton captain drew negative reactions and hundreds of complaints were sent to the BBC during England's opening game against Italy. Following the backlash, Phil felt the need to apologise, admitting that he may've helped viewers get to sleep.

More than a decade on, during a recent appearance on his podcast, Stick to Football, Gary has spoken candidly about his brother's media career. The ex-United captain was discussing former team-mate Michael Owen's much-maligned broadcasting work, saying: "I thought it was scandalous the way he was treated in his early media career, the way people commented on it."

Ian Wright then suggested that Owen was 'hung out' to dry. "Absolutely. Wrighty, you'll know this," Gary replied. "Co-commentary is the hardest thing to do.

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"This happened with my brother. Where they put him in his first game, the BBC put him in his first game in the World Cup, England versus Italy with 20 million people watching.

"Sky, with me, when I first joined... it's still the worst thing I do now, co-commentary, it's the toughest thing I do. They put me on eight games, 10 games, that were like, Fulham against Blackburn. I remember doing that game on a Sunday.

"Not a lot of people are watching but it beds you in, it eases you in. Villa against [Manchester] City, which wasn't a big game back then. I did loads of games on MUTV.

"They (Sky) put me on a big game in March, it took them eight, nine months of trialling me and testing me and feeding back to me and being harsh on me by the way.

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"I remember once in January saying, 'This is not for me', to the producer. He said, 'Stick at it, but you need to be more conversational, more yourself'.

"I had loads of advice. To give Michael Owen Premier League games on TNT first up, and to give Phil that World Cup... honestly, you are throwing a lamb into the lions' den."

Unlike Gary, this time in a more positive sense, Phil has gone on to have a lasting coaching career. His first position as a manager was with England Women, leading the Lionesses to the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup.

Following his departure in 2021, Phil took charge of Inter Miami, the MLS club co-owned by his good friend, David Beckham. After two years in the hot seat, he was relieved of his duties and soon found his next job with Portland Timbers, where he has a contract until 2026.

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