Nike reject anti-racism campaign claims

John Skilbeck

The England defender looked to have provoked a possible confrontation with Nike, who sponsor Manchester United’s kit, by making his outspoken comments after the international friendly against Holland.

Neville welcomed the anti-racism initiatives at Villa Park, but suggested the campaign might be “cheapened slightly by companies like Nike getting a lot of PR out of it for nothing.”

Yet Nike UK’s corporate communications manager, Simon Charlesworth, yesterday insisted there was no ulterior motive to their campaigning, despite Neville’s claims.

“The campaign isn’t about publicity,” he said. “It’s about racism, and the fact remains that there is racism in football. We’ve spoken with all the relevant bodies such as Kick It Out, and we’ve had their approval. Even Gary Neville’s team-mate, Rio Ferdinand, has come down to London to help with the campaign.”

Charlesworth conceded that Neville was “entitled to his opinion.”

“We can’t stop him saying these things,” he added.

Nike have a £300 million, 10-year sponsorship and merchandising deal with United.

Neville said: “We don’t have a big problem with racism in this country, you can think of probably one or two incidents in the last five or 10 years.

“We have to make sure that it [the campaign] is conducted in the right manner and not done just for PR like some of the sports companies seem to be doing at the moment.

“The FA and the England team have always campaigned against racism very well, we have just got to be aware that it is not cheapened slightly by companies like Nike getting a lot of PR out of it for nothing.”