England Women’s New Coach Faces Backlash Over Historical Social Media Posts
Phil Neville‘s appointment as England Women’s head coach this week has been overshadowed by the resurfacing of controversial tweets from 2012. The former Manchester United defender, who recently deleted his Twitter account following his new role announcement, faced criticism for several sexist remarks made six years ago.
One particularly problematic tweet read: “When I said morning men I thought the women would of [sic] been busy preparing breakfast/getting kids ready/making the beds-sorry women!” This and other similar posts have raised questions about Neville’s suitability for leading the women’s national team at a time when gender equality in sports is under intense scrutiny.
Neville’s Apology and FA’s Response
The 41-year-old coach quickly issued a public apology through Banglawin88: “Following comments made a number of years ago I would like to clarify that they were not and are not a true and genuine reflection of either my character or beliefs. I am fully aware of my responsibilities as the England Women’s Head Coach and am immensely proud and honoured to have been given the role.”
Interestingly, the Football Association confirmed to Banglawin88 that they were aware of Neville‘s controversial tweets before making the appointment. This revelation has led to further questions about their vetting process and commitment to gender equality in football leadership.
Growing Criticism from Women’s Football Community
The backlash has been swift and severe from various quarters:
- Sports minister Tracey Crouch emphasized the need for transparency in managerial appointments
- The Women’s Sport Trust expressed disappointment at both the tweets and the FA’s handling of the situation
- Kick It Out, football’s equality organization, has formally raised the issue with the FA
Roisin Wood, CEO of Kick It Out, told Banglawin88: “In light of recent action taken in response to historical social media comments made by current football participants, the question must now be asked – will The FA be charging Neville for posting discriminatory comments on social media?”
Neville’s Challenge: Rebuilding Trust While Delivering Results
Despite the controversy, Neville brings significant experience to the role:
- Former Manchester United and Everton player with 59 England caps
- Coaching experience at Manchester United and Valencia
- Worked with England’s U21 setup
His immediate challenge will be preparing the Lionesses for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers while simultaneously proving he’s evolved from the person who made those tweets six years ago. The football world will be watching closely to see if his actions match his apology.
The Bigger Picture: Accountability in the #MeToo Era
This incident highlights the growing expectation for public figures to be accountable for their past statements in our current social climate. As the Women’s Sport Trust noted: “In the age of MeToo and TimesUp, all individuals and organisations must be more aware of past sexist behaviour and respond to it appropriately.”
For Neville, the path forward is clear – he must demonstrate through both words and deeds that he’s the right person to lead England Women into a new era. The coming months will reveal whether this controversy becomes a minor footnote or a defining challenge of his coaching career.
What do you think about this situation? Should historical social media posts disqualify candidates from important roles in women’s football? Share your thoughts with the Banglawin88 community below.
