Three men have been charged after Salford City’s game against Oldham Athletic was temporarily stopped by pitch invaders carrying England flags in a protest against co-owner Gary Neville.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed three men had been arrested on suspicion of entering the field of play, which falls under the Football Offences Act.
British far-right political party Britain First claimed on social media that it had planned the protest and posted a video of the incident.
Dominic Campbell, 33, of Spa Crescent, Little Hulton, and Tyler Brown, 20, of Altair Place, Salford, have been charged with pitch encroachment and throwing a missile onto the pitch.
Christopher Walsh, 43, of Worsley Road, Eccles, has been charged with pitch encroachment.
British far-right political party Britain First claimed on social media that it had planned the protest and posted a video of the incident.
The protest followed comments made by Neville, who said he had taken down a Union flag displayed at one of his Manchester-based development properties because it was being “used in a negative fashion.”
In a video posted to social media, in the wake of the Crumpsall terror attack, Neville blamed “angry middle-aged men” for stoking division across the country. He described driving down Littleton Road in Kersal, where he saw 50-60 Union Jack Flags.
He compared this to the scenes on Bury New Road where members of the Jewish community were “out in the streets, defiant, not hiding or in fear”.
Salford City’s 1-0 win over Oldham was temporarily stopped midway through the first-half when men wearing white hoodies displaying the message “Gary Neville is a traitor” entered the field of play.
One of the men planted a St George’s cross in on the centre spot before being apprehended and removed by stewards.
Recent Comments