Gary Neville has come under heavy criticism (Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
ITV says Gary Neville’s rant comparing nurses to the treatment of migrant workers in Qatar.
The former Manchester United footballer and pundit was in Qatar for the World Cup, and he highlighted the controversy surrounding the tournament during the channel’s coverage of Sunday’s final between Argentina and France.
His comments sparked backlash online, and ITV has noted Neville was sharing his ‘own personal views’, not those of the broadcaster.
An ITV spokesman said: ‘Gary Neville was expressing his own personal views in the context of a discussion about the treatment of workers in Qatar within a live broadcast.
‘His views are his own and were not endorsed by ITV.’
Neville, 47, compared the treatment of nurses in the UK to that of migrant workers after Qatar was heavily criticised over working conditions which saw a number of people die on construction projects.
‘We should detest low pay, we should detest poor accommodation and working conditions,’ he said. ‘We can never accept that in this region or any other region – and it is just worth mentioning we’ve got a government in our country that are demonising rail workers, ambulance workers and terrifyingly nurses.
‘We can’t have people being paid an absolute pittance to work, we can’t have people in accommodation that is unsavoury and disgusting.
‘It shouldn’t happen here [in Qatar] … with the wealth that exists. But it shouldn’t happen with the nurses in our country either where our nurses are having to fight for an extra pound or two pounds.’
He was met with backlash on social media, while Sir Iain Duncan Smith claimed ITV should have cut him off on air.
Neville was left speechless on Have I Got News For You? last month (Picture: BBC)
He added: ‘People have been killed on building sites and things all over Qatar and paid a pittance, and he compares that to the UK? It’s unbelievable.
‘To compare a country that demonises gay rights, executes and brings in migrant workers by the truckload and pays them a pittance to a democratic country that has the concept of human rights, rule of law and all that goes with it – he’s abused his position.’
Meanwhile, Neville was left speechless last month when Have I Got News For You? star Ian Hislop grilled him on the show over his deal with Qatari broadcaster BeIN to commentate during the World Cup.
Neville argued: ‘Well, you’ve got a choice, haven’t you? My view always has been that you either highlight the issues and challenges in these countries and speak about them, or you basically don’t say anything and stay back home and don’t go. And I think we should challenge them.’
However, Hislop responded: ‘The other option is you stay at home and highlight the abuses. You don’t have to take the Qataris’ money. It’s just not a very good defence.’
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The broadcaster has responded.
