Neville faces questions about social media sexist jokes

Daniel Storey

New England women’s manager Phil Neville faces questions about jokes he posted on social media.

Neville deleted his Twitter account on Tuesday evening after a number of tweets were highlighted.

Two of the three tweets could be dismissed as mild banter, but one joked about domestic violence, Neville saying he had ‘battered’ his wife.

Even if the tweets are not enough to cause Neville to lose his job (and they surely aren’t), it’s hardly the best image for the Football Association to be portraying so soon after the Mark Sampson affair.

It’s also not the start Neville would want, given that he already faces a fight to prove that he is right for the job.

Furthermore, Neville’s appointment has also been criticised by those who believe that the women’s national team job should not go to someone with no managerial experience, no experience within the women’s game and who did not even initially apply for the job.

The accusation is that giving Neville the job increases the old boys network, and makes the women’s game subservient to the men’s game.

Neville’s former teammate at Everton Leon Osman disagrees.

“Yes, he doesn’t know the ins and outs of the women’s game but he’s adaptable and I don’t think it will take him long before he’s memorised every player who’s currently playing in all the leagues,” Osman told BBC Sport.

“He’s got a vast amount of experience of the men’s game, he’s represented his country many times and won trophies, so he’s coming from a strong position.”

Neville has been appointed as head coach until 2021.