GARY NEVILLE’S plea to avoid an FA charge for a passionate celebration against Liverpool in 2006 involved grassing up Steven Gerrard, the Manchester United hero has revealed.
A late Rio Ferdinand winner bagged the right-back a £10,000 fine after he raced over to the away fans’ corner at Old Trafford.
Neville didn’t hold back after the 2006/07 derby winCredit: Reuters
The celebration landed him a £10,000 fineCredit: Reuters
Having run the length of the pitch, Neville leapt in the air and taunted the Reds supporters, kissing his badge repeatedly.
When asked by the FA to explain his actions, the 44-year-old has now admitted to using Gerrard’s celebration against Everton in 2001 as his excuse.
Authorities opted against punishing the midfielder after he cupped his ear to the Goodison Park crowd upon smashing home the leveller in a 3-1 Liverpool win.
Neville recalled to an episode of Sky Sports Soccerbox featuring him and Gerrard: “Do you know this celebration? I used this celebration in my evidence.
“You know when I went up to the Liverpool fans after the game and I got fined.
“I used your celebration, I sort of grassed on you. I said ‘look he did this and you didn’t fine him’.”
Liverpool icon Gerrard had escaped repercussion for winding up Everton fansCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Neville readily admits Gerrard’s strike was “some goal” and his old rival agrees.
Gerrard, 39, told the show: “It was one of my favourite goals because of where it is and who it was against.”
While Red Devil Neville may have had to stump up for his derby day celebration, he has previously confessed to it being worth every penny.
He remarked in 2016: “To be fair, Liverpool had been singing songs about me all game so I thought ‘they need to have a bit back don’t they?’
“It was a last minute goal, unbelievable. I got fined £10,000 for that.
“Absolutely [it was worth it], it was worth a 120-match ban!”
Neville and Carragher belt out Bohemian Rhapsody in cringeworthy karaoke clip
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
