Gary Neville has been involved in a bizarre spat on social media with former Liverpool and Southampton striker Rickie Lambert.
Lambert, 42, enjoyed a 19-year career as a professional footballer, rising from non-League to the Premier League. After netting 117 goals in 235 appearances for Southampton, he achieved his dream transfer to Liverpool in 2014. However, he spent only one season at Anfield before moving on to West Brom and Cardiff, retiring in 2017.
Since retiring, Lambert has been active on social media, often sharing controversial opinions. Notably, he once claimed that talking positively to water could purify it. Recently, Lambert has stirred up further controversy by criticizing Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville’s views on the proposed independent football regulator (IFR) in England.
Neville, responding to fears that England might be barred from UEFA competitions like Euro 2028 if the government enforces the IFR, posted on X: “I don’t post much anymore but feel compelled to address this. Don’t be misled by the scaremongering about the regulator and England losing tournaments. They will do anything to prevent it and are spreading misinformation. The Regulator will not affect the Premier League’s quality but will safeguard the broader game. Even if England lost hosting rights, protecting English club football is more important than hosting a tournament every 50 years.”
Lambert has reacted to Neville’s comments with a contentious post. Tweeting as he now works as an academy coach at Wigan Athletic, Lambert stated: “It’s becoming clear who and what you are @GNev2. Instead of uniting the football community to oppose what is being forced upon us, you use your position to persuade people to accept a corrupt, cowardly plan that threatens our way of life and society.”
Neville quickly responded to Lambert’s post with a simple “You okay Rickie?” accompanied by two crying-laughing emojis. Lambert retorted, “I’m good Gary. Have you seen what your friends are doing to this country? Why would you allow them to get involved in our game?”
UEFA recently expressed concerns to the UK’s culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, about the proposed Independent Football Regulator (IFR), which is part of the Football Governance Bill introduced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July. This bill aims to enhance financial stability in football and prevent clubs from joining controversial breakaway leagues like the European Super League.
Neville had commented on X, dismissing fears that England might be excluded from UEFA competitions like Euro 2028 due to the IFR. He argued that the regulator would not affect the Premier League’s quality but would protect the broader football ecosystem, emphasizing that even if England lost hosting rights, safeguarding English club football was more crucial.
The IFR’s introduction has raised concerns about potential UEFA sanctions against English teams, with UEFA advocating for no government interference in football governance. In response, a UK government spokesperson stated that the Football Governance Bill would create a new regulator to prioritize fans and address governance issues, ensuring the long-term sustainability of English football for the benefit of local communities.