Sir Gareth Southgate comes under fire as ex-England manager says row over flying St George’s flag risks wrecking national ‘unity’

Gareth Southgate is facing criticism after claiming the row over flying the St George flag risks compromising national ‘unity’.

The former England manager was asked about his views on the controversy surrounding the explosion of flags across the country on the BBC Breakfast programme.

‘I worry about unity. I saw what we did with the team [England] “To unite every community,” he said.

‘I think there are more things that connect us than separate us. ‘We should try to focus on the things that bring us together rather than the things that divide us.’

He became the last football figure to stick to his views on the debate, after Gary Neville also spoke out against the flags – which he admittedly caused a divide in opinion.

‘Are you worried about unity? One user wrote to X: “I really don’t understand Southgate.” “St George’s Cross is the flag of England, the country it represents.” It is the national flag. How could this be divisive? Please someone explain this attitude to me.’

Gary Neville faced ire from the online community after condemning ‘angry, middle-aged white men’ last month

Another said: ‘Oh, push it Southgate…..no one is interested in your idea of ​​flying the national flag’ – although of course his opinion was also asked.

One wrote: ‘Southgate is a dreary, stupid conformist which is why he was chosen by the FA to manage England despite failing as a club manager.

‘Therefore, he followed the racist, divisive Critical Race Theory-inspired ‘take the knee’ insult to British society. He is a truly awful manifestation of the corporate ‘enemy class’ of the British people.’

Southgate will step down as England manager in 2024 after eight years in charge, having led the country to two European Championship finals as well as a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final.

He became known as a temperance speaker and has since established himself as a thought leader, writing a book called ‘Dear England: Lessons in Leadership’.

But he poked the bear by arguing that the debate around flags could divide people from each other.

However, Neville is also said to be with him. The former Manchester United defender was met with outrage last month when he called the flags under the protection of ‘angry, middle-aged white men’.

Neville said: ‘As I drove home last night I kept thinking we were all enemies.

Neville has recently come under fire for comments he made about the use of the British and St George flags.

‘And the division that has been created is absolutely disgusting; ‘mostly created by angry, middle-aged white men who know exactly what they’re doing.’

Neville received a harsh response on social media and even in person just for expressing his views. His original comments came shortly after the horrific Manchester synagogue incident where worshipers at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation were attacked by terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie.

Three people were arrested after far-right protesters stormed the pitch to target Salford City’s match against Oldham last month.

Neville is one of the Ammies’ co-owners and midway through the first half, a member of the crowd ran onto the pitch and planted a St George flag in the center circle, but was quickly caught by the stewards.

Another fan tried to join him but was stopped shortly after jumping over the barriers.

Both were wearing white tops that read ‘Gary Neville is a traitor’ and were joined by a third fan, although it was not clear whether he made it onto the pitch.

It was later revealed that the far-right group Britain First claimed responsibility for the demonstration. They said they ‘met with local Salford patriots’ to protest the former England international’s ‘betrayal’.

Fans chanting “Gary Neville is wrong” were also heard at Moor Lane as the match was briefly postponed.

A fan planted a St George flag in the center circle during Salford’s match against Oldham in protest against Neville.

Three fans trying to get onto the field also joined the protest

Criticizing the flags, Neville said: ‘The 50-year-old man began his video on LinkedIn by saying: ‘Seeing last night’s news and this morning’s news, just a mile from here, of horrific attacks within the Jewish community.’

But after pausing for breath as he walked down the street, Neville turned his attention to raising flags, a movement called ‘Operation Raise the Colours’ that has gripped much of the UK this year.

He continued: ‘As I was going down Littleton Road on my way to Salford City last night I saw probably 50 or 60 Union Jack flags. On the way back I went to Bury New Road, the parallel road that has the Jewish community at its heart, and they are out on the streets defiantly, without hiding or afraid.

‘As I drove home last night I kept thinking that we were all enemies to each other. And the division that has been created is absolutely disgusting. It was mostly created by angry, middle-aged white men who knew exactly what they were doing.

‘Last week a Union Jack flag was raised on one of my development sites and I took it down immediately.’

Neville also responded to claims that he was unpatriotic: ‘I played for my country 85 times, I love my country. I love Manchester and I love England but I’ve been building in this city for 15-20 years and no one has put up a Union Jack flag in the last 15-20 years so why do you need to put one up now?

‘It quite clearly sends the message to everyone that there is something you don’t like.

‘It is wrong for the Union Jack flag to be used in a negative way and I am a proud supporter of England, Great Britain and our country and will defend it as one of the greatest places to live anywhere in the world.

The fan in the middle of the pitch and a fellow protester were also arrested by officers.

They wore white tops targeting the Salford chief and said: ‘Gary Neville is a traitor’

When the match was stopped some people chanted ‘Gary Neville is wrong’.

The footage also shows a fan being escorted off the pitch by two officials at Moor Lane.

‘But I think we need to check ourselves, get back to a neutral point, because we’re being pulled left and right and we don’t need that at all.’

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reported last month that fake council letters had been sent to families warning that refugees would have to return home if they carried the St George flag.

The fake letter stated that ‘patriotic’ flag-flying households in Gloucestershire would be forced to host refugees.

Police confirmed they were investigating whether a crime had been committed. Gloucestershire Constabulary also warned residents not to call the number included in the letter.

It was stated that those carrying the British flag would be ‘proud to help your country’.

The letter said that the fictitious former British region of the Middle East called ‘Legin’ (a reference to Nigel Farage spelled backwards) had been taken over by far-right extremists.

Reform said a Muslim tribe known as ‘Pha Rage’, a pun on the UK leader, had been expelled.

It was stated that residents who accepted the agreement would receive a trophy from King Charles with a St George flag on it.

Forest of Dean district councilor Alan Preest said the letters were ‘childish’ and ‘silly’.

The Reform UK Councilor said the letters were a ‘waste of everyone’s time’.

He told BBC News: ‘What I worry about are vulnerable people.’

A council spokesman said: ‘We are aware of a letter sent to residents of the Forest of Dean regarding refugee accommodation.

‘At the moment the letter appears to have been distributed to addresses in Lydney.

‘We would like to reassure residents that this letter was not written by Forest of Dean District Council and should be ignored.’