Gary Neville keeps it real as he sends clear message amid viral Leeds United video
Gary Neville has sent a clear message regarding the viral video of Leeds United players ignoring kids at their hotel.
Leeds players were filmed blanking supporters in their Bournemouth hotel on Sunday.
A clip shared on social media showed stars of the Leeds team walking towards the hotel's entrance in silence as fans tried to get their attention for a photo.
The players avoided eye contact, with most of them wearing headphones or on their phones as they headed for the door.
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A young Leeds fan tried to get the attention of the players as he waved and called their names, but to no avail.
The Premier League club, who are looking to avoid the drop to the Championship this season, released a strongly-worded statement after the video went viral on social media.
"As the first team squad at Leeds United, we wanted to reach out to the fan base regarding yesterday’s game and subsequent posts on social media," it reads.
"Firstly, the performance was not good enough. There is no other way to look at it and the only way to respond is on the pitch. Leeds fans travel up and down the country in huge numbers and deserve more than this.
"What is just as concerning to us as a group, is the video online of us leaving the hotel. Words can’t express how sorry we are that the youngster in the video wearing the Leeds kit is not shown more love from the squad. On a matchday we do an activation walk, before and after this we stop for photos and autographs to ensure we interact with fans, but also that we are on time when leaving for games. However, there is no excuse for not acknowledging fans and if the parents of the fan wearing the Leeds kit in the video could make themselves known to us, we would be grateful.
"We do not believe that this fight is over and we will keep going until the last ball is kicked this season. Thank you again for your support."
The Leeds video comes after Arsenal were slammed for the way they treated a mascot ahead of their league game against West Ham United.
Neville has seen enough as he claimed Leeds' statement wasn't just aimed at them but at all players and teams.
On Twitter, he wrote: "This isn’t a message to Leeds players it’s to all players/teams apologising. No-one is falling for sanitised/vanilla PR guff anymore. Speak from the heart and better on video so fans can see your faces."
Leeds have received backlash after the video emerged online, with fans and critics alike slamming their actions.
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Topics: Leeds United, Gary Neville, Football
Nasir Jabbar