Gary Neville is humiliated hosting BBC’s Have I Got News For You as panelists turn on him over World Cup commentary role, declaring ‘You don’t have to go and take the Qataris’ money to highlight abuses’
- Neville sparked blacklash over pundit role for state broadcaster beIN SPORTS
- Qatar has been heavily criticised over human rights and homosexuality stance
- Ex-footballer has insisted he will ‘never shy away’ from highlighting the issues
- But he was grilled during appearance as guest host on the BBC comedy show
- Ian Hislop blasted his reasoning for taking role as ‘just not a very good defence’
Gary Neville has been humiliated during a guest host appearance on the BBC’s Have I Got News For You over his World Cup commentary role in Qatar.
The former Manchester United footballer, 47, sparked a blacklash when he agreed to be a pundit for state broadcaster beIN SPORTS for the tournament – due to begin later this month.
Qatar has been heavily criticised over its stance on human rights, particularly its attitude towards women and gay people, in the build-up to the World Cup.
The nation, which criminalises homosexuality, has also come under heavy scrutiny from human rights groups over its treatment of migrant workers.
Neville has repeatedly insisted he will ‘never shy away’ from highlighting controversial issues while working for the broadcaster.
But Have I Got News For You stalwart Hislop blasted his reasoning, adding: ‘You don’t have to go and take the Qatari’s money. I’m not trying to be tiresome, but it is just not a very good defence.’
Neville was grilled by Hislop and guest Richard Madeley as he presented the comedy quiz show for the first time on Friday night.
Opening a segment on the upcoming World Cup, Neville asked Hislop: ‘Ian, is it coming home?’
In a reply met with laughter, the team captain replied: ‘What, your reputation?’
Neville (pictured hosting Have I Got News For You on Friday night) sparked a blacklash when he agreed to be a pundit for state broadcaster beIN SPORTS for the tournament
Ian Hislop (pictured alongside comedian Maisie Adam on the show) grilled Neville, who was a guest presenter
Qatar has been criticised for its treatment of workers during the construction of stadiums
Neville has vowed to highlight issues in Qatar during his work for state-owned beIN SPORTS
He then added: ‘The others have been very gentle with you, Gary, but the elephant in the room is still there. I mean, you’re commentating there, aren’t you?’
Hislop asked Neville what his ‘defence’ was for deciding to work for the broadcaster, to which the ex-footballer explained: ‘Well, I think you’ve got a choice, haven’t you?’
But Hislop quipped: ‘What, going and not going?’
Neville then clarified: ‘My view always has been that you either highlight the issues and challenges in these countries and speak about them, or you don’t say anything and you stay back home and don’t go. I’ve always said we should challenge them.’
Hislop then replied: ‘There’s another option – you stay at home and highlight the abuses.
‘You don’t have to go and take the Qatari’s money. I’m not trying to be tiresome, but it is just not a very good defence.’
Referring to the decision from singer Robbie Williams and band Black Eyed Peas to also perform in Qatar during the tournament, Madeley chimed: ‘ How is someone like Robbie (Williams) or the Black Eyed Peas supposed to highlight it?
‘Are they going to to make a speech on the stage? Of course they’re not.’
Neville explained that the prevalent issues could be raised during commentary, but he was mocked as Hislop imitated how such comments would be made, saying: ‘And it’s the kick-off here in this appalling country with its human rights record and honestly I think… ‘Oh someone is kicking a ball’.
‘But honestly the amount of immigrant workers who died, it’s a shocker… ‘Oh it’s a goal!’
Viewers on social media also highlighted the ‘hypocrisy’ of Neville’s decision to work for beIN Sports.
One said: ‘Gary Neville’s hypocrisy over “highlighting” issues when he goes to Qatar whilst taking their money is ripped apart here. Nicely done.’
Another added: ‘Massive well done to Ian Hislop and everyone on #HIGNFY for calling out Gary Neville, if he gave a damn about human rights then he wouldn’t be working for a company owned by Qatari state who have a terrible track record for human rights.. he is all about the money.’
A third said: ‘Generally agree with Gary Neville’s politics but really glad he got pulled up re his hypocrisy over Qatar in the most brutal way.
‘Stop trying to tell people you’re lining your own pockets for some good cause. Either accept you don’t care or don’t do it. Simple choice.’
And a fourth wrote: ‘Watching Gary Neville squirm as Ian Hislop calls him out for his sheer hypocrisy is brilliant telly.’
Qatar’s hosting of the tournament is contentious given their numerous human rights abuses, discrimination against LGBT+ people, deaths of migrant workers and accusations of corruption
Manchester United legend David Beckham has a £10million ambassador deal with Qatar
It comes after Neville last month suggested Qatar is more harshly treated than Saudi Arabia and the UAE when it comes to criticism of its human rights record in another impassioned defence of his decision to work there.
Neville said human rights records in the UAE and Saudi Arabia – who are both heavily involved in football through their ownership of Manchester City and Newcastle, respectively – were ‘worse’, but the two countries seem to avoid the level of scrutiny and criticism aimed at Qatar.
He also leapt to the defence of his former team-mate David Beckham. The former England star’s £10million deal to be an ambassador for the tournament has been at the centre of widespread criticism, revealed by the Mail on Sunday.
‘[People forget] Beckham went to play for PSG who had Qatari ownership,’ he said.
‘Beckham to be fair to him has a relationship with the Qataris through his relationship with PSG, and the work he has done in terms of amplifying our country through the world is probably second to none in the past five to 10 years.’
Earlier on Friday, Neville shared a video to Instagram in which he confessed he was feeling ‘nervous’ ahead of his first time presenting the BBC show.
The former footballer admitted he was filming the video in an ‘uncomfortable moment’ before joining Paul Merton and Hislop on-air in his guest position.
He admitted his ‘stress’ came as a result of not being a professional presenter and having ‘intelligent, clever and experienced’ broadcasters alongside him.
Gary said in his video: ‘I’m in the dressing room. It’s a private moment, I’m about to get the call to go on stage to present Have I Got News For You which you will be watching tonight on BBC One at nine o’clock.
‘For the first time, I would say maybe in ten years, maybe since I did my first Monday night football, I actually feel quite nervous and a little bit…
‘I use the word stretched, not stressed, and I’m just videoing this in an uncomfortable moment because we sometimes put ourselves in these moments in life and we don’t know how it’s gonna go.
‘We’ve never done it before and I always used to say it’s like diving in the deep end as a kid when you haven’t got your armbands on for the first time and you don’t know what’s gonna happen, that little bit of trepidation or your driving license.
‘This is my thought of the week, you have to put yourselves in life in those moments of stress where I’m presenting.
‘I’ve got autocue and I’ve got what I feel are intelligent, clever, experienced broadcaster types around me and I am not a presenter so here goes.
‘You’ll be able to watch the show tonight but just know there are moments of vulnerability even though sometimes you look confident.’
Source: Read Full Article