“At what point do we feel uncomfortable with things where you feel like someone is being victimised?”
Gary Neville has spoken out against the media coverage of Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood after The Sun published a story in which he is alleged to have been taking laughing gas, often referred to in tabloids as “hippy crack.”
This story follows an unfortunate episode for the teenager during his first ever England senior call-up, when he and Phil Foden were sent home early for breaking Covid-19 protocol by spending time with two local girls in the team hotel.
The pending publication of the story saw Greenwood issue his second apologetic statement in the space of five days:
“I have now been made aware of the health risks associated with this practice — and accept that even trying it, as shown in these historical pictures, was poor judgement on my part. I strongly urge others not to follow my example. As an 18 year old I am learning all the time. However this week I’ve also learned that I will be judged to a higher standard because of my career, and I must respect that in future.”
“I feel a little uncomfortable,” Neville said on Sky Sports, this afternoon.
“Last week, completely accepted that’s a big story. While he’s in the England hotel, it’s in the public interest. But at what point do we feel uncomfortable with things where you feel like someone is being victimised?
“I feel like this mornings story off the back of last week, what’s that going to do this morning to help that boy, it was a step too far for me. To me, that’s not in the public interest.”
Neville also compared the Greenwood story to coverage of Raheem Sterling in the tabloid press over the years.
“We know that ultimately, these stories can have significant damage on people.”
Watch the full clip below.
🗣"At what point do we feel uncomfortable with things where you feel like someone is being victimised, I feel like this mornings story off the back of last week, what's that going to do this morning to help that boy, it was a step too far for me!" @GNev2 on Mason Greenwood pic.twitter.com/454Qv2wACS
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 13, 2020
