🔗 Share this article Ex-footballer Gary Neville the pundit explains he took down a union flag being 'used in a negative fashion'. Gary Neville explained that he had taken down a Union Jack from one of his Manchester development sites because it was being "employed in a divisive manner," as he urged his followers to question what it means to be loyal to one's country. A Video Message In a online message published at the end of the week, the ex-player turned businessman said he believed that "we’re all being turned on each other," laying a great deal of the fault 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 Littleton Road, and seeing "dozens of British flags" on that section of the road. He then compared that with his trip home through the adjacent avenue, Bury New Road, where the local Jewish residents were "visible outdoors, standing strong, unafraid." A Decisive Move Gary Neville, who has established a large property portfolio in Manchester since ending his playing career in 2011, said he took down a Union Jack being displayed on one of his building sites. "Interestingly on one of my property projects last week there was a British flag put up and I took it down instantly," he said. On Patriotism "A portion of the audience could believe and thinking: 'Gary you’re not really patriotic.' I’ve played for my country 85 times, I am proud of my country, I am devoted to Manchester and I love England," he affirmed. The 50-year-old, said that in the period he has worked in the city, he had not observed Union Jacks at the current rate and questioned why this was the case. "The Union Jack displayed in a divisive way is improper and I’m a proud supporter of the nation, of Britain, of our country and will promote it globally as a top-tier location for life," he stated. An Appeal for Self-Assessment "But I think we need to check ourselves," he continued, "assess our actions and contemplate about restoring a sense of equilibrium because society is being dragged to extremes and there is no need for such polarization." Previous Statements The Sky Sports commentator has repeatedly expressed his thoughts on current affairs and social topics, such as stating people should "despise" the poor working conditions for migrant workers in Qatar and NHS staff in the UK. Diversity in Sports In his LinkedIn video, Neville discussed the multicultural nature of soccer, saying that he teammates hailed from all over Britain and from across the globe. "We were a beautiful team, united as one," he noted. Post-Brexit Impact He said he blamed Brexit for its "damaging consequences" on the country, and said the "rhetoric" of discord was becoming "profoundly risky." "All these idiots that are disseminating offensive rhetoric in every form and hostility in any manifestation, we must stop promoting them," he asserted. "We should cease directing attention to them and it needs to stop now and get back to a country of affection, of peace, of harmony and function as a cohesive unit again."