GARY NEVILLE HAS A POP AT NIKE'S ANTI – RACISM ‘CAMPAIGN'

Last updated : 10 February 2005 By editor

Gary Neville:

"We don't have a big problem with racism in this country, you can think of probably one or two incidents in the last five or 10 years. We have to make sure that it (the campaign) is conducted in the right manner and not done just for PR like some of the sports companies seem to be doing at the moment.


"The FA and the England team have always campaigned against racism very well, we have just got to be aware that it is not cheapened slightly by companies like Nike getting a lot of PR out of it for nothing."

Nike have hit back. Simon Charlesworth, UK corporate communications manager, said:


"The campaign isn't about publicity. It's about racism, and the fact remains that there is racism in football. We've spoken with all the relevant bodies such as Kick It Out, and we've had their approval.

"Even Gary Neville's team-mate, Rio Ferdinand, has come down to London to help with the campaign. We can't stop [Neville] saying these things.”

Another Nike spokesman, Charlie Brooks:

"Nike started this campaign at the request of Thierry Henry. Holland wore the shirts last night because they are one of the Nike sponsored federations and they are very keen to make a stand against racism. This is not a commercial campaign for Nike. The Stand Up Speak Up campaign aims to raise money that will go directly to groups helping to tackle the problem."