GARY NEVILLE COMMENTARY ATTRACTS ALMOST 600 OFCOM COMPLAINTS
Gary Neville’s criticism of Gabriel Martinelli during Arsenal’s goalless draw with Liverpool has prompted almost 600 complaints to media regulator Ofcom.
Neville issued a furious response to Martinelli shoving injured Liverpool defender Conor Bradley in the final moments of the match last week.
Speaking in his role as a Sky Sports co-commentator, Neville said he could not believe the Liverpool players did not “absolutely whack” the Arsenal winger.
“I am actually fuming with Martinelli, I don’t know how the Liverpool players didn’t go over and absolutely whack him to be honest with you and take a red card,” said Neville. “Absolutely disgraceful, that.”
Ofcom’s weekly audience report reveals that 576 complaints were subsequently made, and it is understood they were in relation to Neville’s comments. It is the most complaints made regarding any television broadcast since December 4.
There were similarly critical comments from pundit Roy Keane, who said of Martinelli: “I didn’t like it. It happened to me when I was badly injured and a player stood over me, and it’s not good.
“First of all throwing the ball at him, and he puts a little knee in him to try to force him off. I’m surprised the Liverpool players didn’t react to Martinelli more. I think that behaviour is an absolute disgrace. Not good scenes. Hopefully Martinelli apologises for it.”
Martinelli issued an apology a few hours after the game, saying he did not understand that Bradley was seriously injured. Bradley has since been ruled out for the season after a successful operation on his knee.
The Brazilian responded to the furore in style on Sunday, scoring a hat-trick for Arsenal against Portsmouth in the FA Cup.
He was defended on the night by Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, who said: “I don’t know Gabriel Martinelli, but he comes across as a nice guy.
“I think the problem for him – and it’s a problem in general in football – is that there is so much time-wasting and players pretending that they are injured in the final parts of the game and during the game, that you can sometimes be annoyed if you want to try to score a goal that you think the player is time-wasting. You cannot ask Martinelli to think so clear in the 94th minute.”
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