Nottingham Forest fans taunt Gary Neville with a X-rated chant and masks after Sky Sports pundit’s ban from City Ground for Chelsea game – but Roy Keane brands move ‘small minded’
Nottingham Forest fans have taunted Gary Neville amid his ban from the City Ground.
As exclusively revealed by Mail Sport on Friday, Forest told Sky Sports that their lead pundit Neville has been banned from the City Ground for their final Premier League fixture of the season against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
The Champions League chasers also requested that the broadcaster changes its commentary team while Sky said Forest’s action was ‘unwelcome’.
Forest’s drastic move came after Neville made heavily critical points on social media, fuelling a belief within the club that he holds a grudge against them.
Alan Smith replaced Neville on commentary and moments before kick-off, Forest fans didn’t hold back as they chanted ‘Gary Neville is a w*****’.
Later in the match, fans chanted ‘Marinakis, he bans who he wants’, while others donned masks of Neville’s face to pile on the pressure.
Nottingham Forest fans taunted Gary Neville following his ban from their stadium this week
As exclusively revealed by Mail Sport on Friday, Forest told Sky Sports that lead pundit Neville has been banned from the City Ground
Roy Keane later claimed it was ‘small minded’ from Forest to ban Neville from their stadium
However, after the full-time whistle, fellow Sky pundit Roy Keane jumped to the defence of Neville. The former Man United captain claimed it was ‘small minded’.
Neville, meanwhile, broke his silence on the ban by expressing his ‘disappointment’ with Forest’s ban earlier in the week.
Neville had criticised Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis after the Greek businessman walked onto the pitch to speak to Nuno Espirito Santo after the draw with Leicester.
The pundit said Marinakis’ behaviour was ‘scandalous’ and urged Nuno to resign with immediate effect despite leading the club back into Europe.
It later became apparent Marinakis had voiced concern over the medical staff’s handling of Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury and that he had not remonstrated with boss Nuno.
Writing in a social media statement, Neville added: ‘I was informed yesterday by Sky Sports that Nottingham Forest would not give me an accreditation or access to the stadium as a co-commentator. I’ve had no choice but to withdraw from the coverage.
‘I’ve dished out my fair share of criticism and praise in the last 14 years of doing this job and have never come close to this unprecedented action.
‘Personally, I think it’s disappointing that a great club like Nottingham Forest have been reduced to making such a decision.
‘Whilst they have every right to choose who they let into their own stadium, it’s symptomatic of things that have happened over the last 12 months with the club.
‘I wish the coaching staff, players and fans of the club all the best in their quest to achieve Champions League football.’
