“It’s a nonsense.”
Gary Neville was in Dublin on Thursday to promote Cadbury as the Premier League’s official snack partner on the same day that the line-up for Liam Miller’s memorial match was confirmed.
Neville is one of several former Manchester United players due to take part in the match at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on September 25.
The game will feature a team of United legends, captained by Roy Keane, play against a side containing Republic of Ireland and Celtic legends.
The teams have been confirmed for Liam Miller’s memorial match
The match will take place at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, after a protracted process which saw the GAA eventually give the charity match the green light to be staged at their venue.
GAA rules originally meant the game couldn’t be played at the stadium, something Neville struggled to understand.
“I had no idea about it until somebody asked me about it about two hours ago. I don’t know about the politics, as I’m in a different country and in a different city,” Neville said.
“What I would say looking on from afar, the idea that a game in tribute to Liam Miller… For people to be even debating where the game is being played is an absolute nonsense. People debating it and creating a negative story around it. Who cares where the game is played? If it’s played in this room, on the beach, in a cricket stadium, or a rugby stadium, or a football stadium or in a bar, or on the pavement outside? Who cares? The essence of the game is the most important thing.”
“These associations of national sports, they are a disaster all over the world. Not just in Ireland,” Neville continued.
“The idea that they (the GAA congress) can only meet once a year, that there is politics, it’s nonsense. We have that in England with the FA…it’s a nonsense. The whole thing is a nonsense. I didn’t know the issue before you explained it to me, but the reality is that door should be open to anything that supports this fixture.”
The Sky Sports pundit also spoke about how he became involved in the match. When he was at the World Cup working as a pundit for ITV, Keane asked him and Ryan Giggs to take part.
“We didn’t need to give it a moment’s thought,” Neville said.
“It’s absolutely terrible what has happened to Liam. I can’t imagine the pain and devastation that his family are feeling. He was a good man, a good player and for us it’s important that we absolutely support this game and come over and do the very best that we can.
“To be asked by Roy was an honour because we obviously hold him in the highest regard. Obviously, we have the greatest respect for him. So, when he asked we said yes straight away, we were desperate to come over. I’m not sure if we’re very good at playing any more – that’s the problem that we’ve got, so don’t expect too much! But we’ll do our best and make sure we give our all and make it as good and attractive a fixture and a day out as possible and do Liam justice.”
Gary Neville was speaking in Dublin as an ambassador for Cadbury, the official snack partner of the Premier League.
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