Gary Neville and Rickie Lambert embroiled in war of words over 'corrupt, cowardly government'
Gary Neville and Rickie Lambert became embroiled in a bizarre war of words on social media platform X over plans for an independent football regulator.
Plans are afoot to intoduce an independent regulator for English football, which has been met by pushback from UEFA.
So much so that the European footballing body has threatened to ban England from international tournaments should a regulator be put in place.
Sky Sports pundit and Manchester United legend Neville has long advocated for an independent regulator in football and lashed out at UEFA.
Gary Neville and Rickie Lambert clashed on X
X
Writing on X, Neville accused UEFA of scaremongering and said: "I don’t post much anymore but feel the need to on this subject.
"Please don’t be fooled by the scaremongering regarding the independent regulator and England losing tournaments.
"They will do anything to stop it coming in and are happy to create misinformation and apply soft power in the right places in the meantime.
"The Regulator will have no impact at all on the quality of the Premier League yet will importantly protect the wider game and pyramid.
"England will also not lose hosting tournaments, but even if they did it’s more important that we protect the entirety of English club football than getting a tournament every 50 years."
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Hitting back at the former defender was ex-Liverpool and Southampton star Lambert, who wrote: "It's becoming clear exactly who and what you are @GNev2.
"Instead of using the footballing community to come together and stop what is being implemented onto us, you are using your position to try and persuade them to accept the corrupt, cowardly shadow governments plan to destroy our way of life and society."
Neville appeared dumbfounded by Lambert's reply and wrote back: "You ok Rickie?" with two laughing emojis.
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Gary Neville has advocated for an independent regulator in football
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Lambert replied: "I'm good Gary, you seen what your mates doing to this country?
"Why would you let them anywhere near our game."
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Rickie Lambert fumed at Gary Neville on X
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Talk over an indepedent football regulator died down under the Tories but has since been reignited by Labour.
The Football Governance Bill was originally introduced in March 2024 but it was brought back in July after Sir Keir Starmer won the General Election.
The idea is to protect football clubs from collapsing amid rising financial troubles but some have criticised the idea of the government interfering in football.