🔗 Share this article Former footballer Gary Neville the pundit says he took down a British flag being 'employed in a negative fashion'. Gary Neville explained that he ordered the removal of a union flag from one of his property development locations because it was being "displayed in a harmful way," as he encouraged his audience to think deeply about what it signifies to be patriotic. A Social Media Post In a social media video shared Friday, the ex-player turned businessman said he believed that "we’re all being turned on each other," placing a significant portion of the responsibility for the divide on "frustrated, middle-aged white males … who know exactly what they’re doing|who are fully aware of their actions|who understand the consequences of their behavior}." Different Neighborhood Views He recounted traveling along a street in the neighborhood, and seeing "probably 50-60 union jack flags" on that stretch of his journey. He then juxtaposed this against his return drive through the parallel road, the other thoroughfare, where the Jewish populace were "out in the streets, defiant, not hiding or in fear." Action Taken The pundit, who has developed a large property portfolio in Manchester since leaving professional football in 2011, said he took down a Union Jack being flown on a development property. "Interestingly on one of my property projects last week there was a British flag displayed and I took it down instantly," he said. Thoughts on Loving One's Country "A portion of the audience could believe and thinking: 'Gary you’re not really patriotic.' I represented my nation on 85 occasions, I have great affection for England, I love Manchester and I love England," he declared. Gary Neville, now 50, said that in the period he has worked in the city, he had not observed Union Jacks at the existing level and asked why this was happening. "The Union Jack used in a negative fashion is not right and I am a staunch supporter of England, of the United Kingdom, of this country and will defend it internationally as a top-tier location for life," he proclaimed. Urging National Introspection "Yet, I feel it is crucial we reflect," he added, "check ourselves and start to think about returning to a balanced position because we’re being pulled right and left and we don’t need to be pulled right and left at all." Past Political Views The television pundit has often shared his views on political and social issues, for instance urging the public to "abhor" the substandard labor conditions for foreign workers in Qatar and health service workers in the United Kingdom. Diversity in Sports In his LinkedIn video, Neville discussed the diversity of football, saying that he shared the pitch with individuals from throughout the nation and from around the world. "It was a magnificent squad, totally together," he stated. On Brexit and Division He said he blamed Brexit for its "damaging consequences" on the country, and said the "messaging" of discord was becoming "extremely dangerous." "All these idiots that are disseminating offensive rhetoric in whatever form and hostility in any manifestation, we need to cease elevating them," he emphasized. "We must stop elevating our voices towards them and this must end immediately and return to a nation of affection, of tranquility, of harmony and become a team again."