Gary Neville in Sky Sports blunder after making brutal comment thinking he wasn't on air

Gary Neville had a moment to forget on the first Monday Night Football episode of the 2025/26 campaign when he delivered a cutting comment thinking he wasn't on air.

The Manchester United legend's appearances on the Sky Sports show are something of a rarity these days, with Jamie Carragher typically joined by different guests each week.

But Neville was in the studio for the first MNF of the season, which saw newly-promoted Leeds United host Everton at at Elland Road.

Everything was going to plan as Neville and Carragher gave their thoughts on the weekend's action and previewed the final clash of the matchday.

That was until the former Valencia coach thought the show was on an advert break and could be heard referring to Leeds supporters and saying, “That’s one group of fans I wouldn’t want to go near!”

Neville did not realise that the show was still live and host David Jones gestured to the ex England defender, who isn't too fond of Leeds after many battles with United in his playing career.

After an eruption of laughter, Neville asked, "Did you hear that?" and just as Jones was midway through an apology, the 50-year-old repeated the controversial line.

Jones then chimed in, commenting: "I don't think they want you anywhere near them!" and continuing the broadcast before kick-off commenced.

Neville did have a restaurant in Leeds which closed down after the establishment reportedly racked significant debts. He had offered praise before the game when he said Elland Road is "one of the great grounds and great atmospheres".

Leeds one of three clubs Neville would never have played for

Neville spent the entirety of his playing career at United, playing 598 times before hanging up his boots.

He was never involved in a transfer and stressed that he could never have represented Leeds, Liverpool or Manchester City due to the fierce rivalry - though he did reveal his admiration for Arsenal, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

"I’d made the decision quite early in my 30s that if Sir Alex [Ferguson] had come and told me my time was up, I wouldn’t have played for anyone else," Neville told Sky Sports, as per the Manchester Evening News.

"However, if he’d come to me at say the age of 28, and told me my time was up, of course I would have played for another Premier League club.

"Who would I have played for? You can rule out three: I’d have never have played for City, Liverpool or Leeds. Not in a million years. I don’t feel anything bad towards the players who did that, but me personally, I couldn’t have done it. The rivalry is just too much.

"If you’d said to me, in a perfect world, in my years of playing, which clubs in the Premier League have the tradition, a proper club? Arsenal would be No 1. The tradition of Highbury, I felt they did things the right way. Also in the Premier League, I like Aston Villa and Newcastle."