Gary Neville says most Premier League clubs 'frightened' to back season restart

Former England defender believes stakeholders wary of being held liable should something go wrong

Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville said Premier League clubs have not made enough public declarations. PA

Gary Neville has criticised the Premier League and most clubs for failing to make the case for resuming the season soon.

The former Manchester United and England defender accused them of being "frightened to death" to publicly back plans to restart the season for fear of being held liable should something go wrong.

Premier League clubs met on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to resuming the campaign and are understood to have picked June 8 as the most suitable date to return from the lockdown.

But Neville feels there have not been enough public discussions and declarations.

Neville wrote on Twitter: "The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly "We have to Re-Start". I'd respect them more if they said "We accept the increase in Health Risk but it's one we are willing to take". They won't as they are frightened to death!"

When asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, Neville said: "That's why we haven't heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame."

Before making an exception for Brighton as the "only club willing to take a stand", Neville added: "It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though."

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Best celebrations

The always shy and retiring Paul Gascoigne celebrates his sensational solo strike for England against Scotland at the 1996 European Championships in typical understated fashion. The midfielder lies flat on his back next to the goal and encourages teammates to squirt drinks down his throat - mimicking an incident that took during an infamous team night out in Hong Kong ahead of the tournament. Getty

A rare provocative moment from the great Lionel Messi. The Argentine holds up his Barcelona shirt in front of Real Madrid fans after scoring a late winner in the clasico at the Bernabeu stadium in April, 2017. He was booked for his troubles. AFP

England's beanpole striker Peter Crouch seals his place in footballing folklore with this robot dance after scoring against Jamaica at Old Trafford in Manchester in June 2006. The fact he grabbed a hat-trick in the match is now a mere sidenote. AP

The classic trademark celebration of Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer after scoring against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium in October, 2001. Newcastle fans would watch him repeat this for just about all of his club record 206 goals for the Magpies. Getty

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of the Netherlands enjoys his match-winning penalty against Mexico in the last-16 clash at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil by going full Bruce Lee on the corner flag. Getty

Jurgen Klinsmann launches into a swallow dive after scoring on his Tottenham Hotspur debut against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in August, 1994. On his arrival in England, there had been much debate in the media about the German striker's apparent habit of going down too easily to win free-kicks. Klinsmann's riposte was magnificent. Colorsport/Shutterstock

Cameroon striker Roger Milla dusts off his dancing shoes by the corner flag after scoring against Colombia in the last-16 clash in Naples at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. It was a classic World Cup moment from the 38-year-old who turned out to be an unlikely star of the tournament. Getty

Being jeered off your own fans is tough for any player, but Ayoze Perez came up with his own way of hitting back at abuse from Newcastle United supporters. After every goal, he would stand perfectly still with fingers in each ear and a big grin on his face. It's a tradition he has carried on since moving to Leicester City in 2019 and here he is celebrating scoring against West Ham at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League on January 22, 2020. Getty

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney responded to finding himself on the front pages of British newspapers in memorable fashion. Video footage had emerged of him appearing to be knocked unconscious in a kitchen boxing bout with Stoke City player Phil Bardsley. A few days later, he scored against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, shadow boxed for a few seconds before pretending to be knocked to the ground. Getty

Beating arch-rivals Manchester United is always a special moment for Liverpool players and fans alike. Beating them 4-1 at Old Trafford, though, is another level altogether for the Merseysiders. Captain Steven Gerrard celebrated scoring their second goal in March, 2009, by rushing over and planting a smacker on a television camera lense. Getty

Life is certainly never dull when Mario Balotelli is around. The Manchester City striker, tired of finding himself the focus of British media attention, decided to show off a t-shirt bearing the words "Why always me?" after scoring the opening goal in the 6-1 derby victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford - thus guaranteeing he would remain in the headlines Getty.

It is a tradition in modern football for players who score against their old club to keep their celebrations down to a bare minimum, if show any emotion at all. But not if you are Emmanuel Adebayor. After scoring for Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium against previous club Arsenal, in September 2009, the Togo international decided to run the entire length of the pitch and slide down onto his knees in front of an apoplectic away section. The plastic chair in the picture is just one of many objects that was launched in his direction. Adebayor would later claim his reaction was down to racist abuse he had received off Gunners fans. Getty

One of the most famous World Cup celebrations of all. The raw emotion on the face of Marco Tardelli, with his bulging eyes looking set to pop out of their sockets as he roars like a lion after scoring for Italy against Germany in the 1982 World Cup final in Spain is truly unforgettable. "In that moment, I went beyond madness," Tardelli would later say. Getty

A memorable celebration for an unforgettable FA Cup moment. Ryan Giggs had just scored a stunning individual goal to win the semi-final replay in extra-time against bitter rivals Arsenal at Villa Park in April, 1999. The Welsh winger proceeded to take his top off, twirl it above his head and sprint down the touchline at full pelt. Shutterstock

Taking inner-rage to new levels, Newcastle United midfielder Temuri Ketsbaia will always be remembered for his furious "celebrations" after scoring the last-minute winners against Bolton in January, 1998. The Georgian, frustrated at a lack of game time under manager Kenny Dalglish, proceeded to rip his shirt off and kick seven bells out of the St James' Park advertising hoardings, even threatening to strip down to his underpants at one point. Reuters

A touching moment at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. In tribute to his newly-born son, Brazilian attacker Bebeto celebrated his goal against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals by cradling an imaginary baby alongside teammates Romario and Mazinho. Getty

Real Madrid's Brazilian attacker Kaka celebrates in typical fashion after scoring against Ajax in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu, in December, 2012. Pointing to the sky was the devout Christian's way of saying thanks to God. AFP

Portuguese winger Nani goes airborne in trademark fashion after scoring for Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur, in October 2010. Getty

After attacking teammate John Arne Riise with a golf club during a team-bonding session in the Spanish Algarve in February, 2017, Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy was back in action days later in a Champions League last-16 tie at Barcelona. And the Welshman, who was fined £80,000 by the club, decided to celebrate his goal by pretending to swing a golf club. Riise would later call the celebration 'disrespectful'. Getty

Miroslav Klose goes head-over-heels in celebration after coming on as a substitute to score for Germany and earn them a point against Ghana at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. It was the 36-year-old's 15th goal in World Cup finals, equaling the record set by former Brazil star, Ronaldo. He would break the record during Germany's 7-1 route of the hosts in the semi-finals. Getty

Forced to stop pulling his shirt over head after scoring as it would earn him a yellow card, Daniel Sturridge went on to mark every goal with a trademark dance routine. This is him in full flow after notching in the Europa League final against Sevilla in Basel, Switzerland, on May 18, 2016. Getty

With his team 4-0 down at Manchester City on Boxing Day 2008, Hull City manager Phil Brown decided to make the unusual call conducting his half-time team talk on the pitch in front of the travelling Tigers fans to try and shame a reaction out of the players. The match finished 5-1. The following season, Hull were back at the Etihad Stadium and when Jimmy Bullard scored from the spot, he beckoned his teammates over who promptly sat on the ground and received a mock telling off from the midfielder. The game finished 1-1 and Brown described the celebration as "fantastic". AFP

The man who would strike fear into corner flags across football pitches the world over. Australia attacker Tim Cahill celebrates scoring for Everton against Fulham at Goodison Park in April, 2012, in trademark fashion by shadow boxing the defenceless flag. Getty

Adopted by many across the world, but most famously used by Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale. This is him celebrating scoring his team's first goal against Legia Warsaw in the Champions League group stage match in October, 2016. Possibly soon to be seen in Major League Soccer in the US as the out-of-favour Welsh attacker finally heads for the Real exit this summer. Getty

During the Champions League last-16 first leg against Paris Saint-Germain in February 2020, Erling Braut Haaland had marked his latest goal for Borussia Dortmund by sitting cross legged in a Buddha pose. Neymar and Co at PSG were clearly not amused. After the French side had beaten Dortmund to secure passage to the quarter-finals the following month, PSG players decided their was only one suitable celebration. Twitter

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The Premier League announced on Friday that clubs had confirmed their commitment to finishing the season.

A statement added: "The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers.

"The League welcomed the creation of the government medical working group for a return of elite sport.

"No decisions were taken at today's shareholders' meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding 'Project Restart'."

Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club's official website on Saturday.

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady revealed more details about the plans in a newspaper column on Saturday and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish made the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column.

Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman but reiterated his general point.

The TV pundit wrote: "Steve I want football to return. I also understand the complexities. However it's depressing that the PL and clubs seem to be in hiding, scared to death of communicating. No-one wants to be responsible for this one! Just in case the unthinkable happens."