Gary Neville said he feared being attacked by a “very aggressive dog” during a confrontation in Manchester earlier this week, after a man allegedly verbally abused him and his wife while they were walking.
A video shared on X showed a man filming himself shouting insults at Neville, repeatedly swearing at him as Neville, appearing confused by the encounter, stopped when his name was called.
Speaking later on the Stick to Football podcast, Neville said he regretted not filming the man himself, believing it might have discouraged the footage from being posted online.
Recalling the incident, Neville said the man was holding what appeared to be an aggressive dog and he worried the animal might be released during the confrontation.
Neville, who had been attending a concert by James with his wife Emma and former teammate Roy Keane, said the most upsetting part was experiencing something like that while with his wife, adding it was the first time he had faced that kind of situation.
Neville’s podcast co-hosts criticized the incident, with Ian Wright calling it horrible and uncalled for, while Jill Scott also condemned the abuse.