Former footballer Gary Neville has leapt to the defence of Rachel Riley, after the presenter quit her role on Sky Sports due to a backlash for comments she made about Tottenham Hotspur.
The ‘Countdown’ mathematician has quit her co-hosting job on ‘Friday Night Football’, after suffering what she described as “hideous personal abuse” from Spurs fans.
Rachel landed in hot water when she claimed Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham in their Premier League title challenge last month was “a proper bottle job”.
According to The Times (£), she has since decided not to renew her contract with Sky Sports.
Gary, who works as a pundit for the channel, has now taken to Twitter to voice his disgust at the abuse Rachel suffered, calling it “scandalous”.
He wrote: “A Scandalous response to a nothing comment. Not helped by other presenters in the TV world sticking the knife in!!”
Rachel previously defended her comments after the game, writing on Twitter: “Didn’t mean any offence to Spurs or their fans tonight just a surprise to slip v WHam with their form on paper. Personal abuse is hideous.
“After a great run to slip now is disappointing for Spurs. As a MUFC fan neutral in the title run closer would’ve been more interesting.
“For the record I didn’t say Spurs are bottle jobs but tonight’s game was a test of nerve. WH hadn’t beaten any of the top 6 this season.
“I love football, always have, always will, banter is fun, abuse is not whoever/whatever/wherever #respect.”
HuffPost UK has contacted a representative for Rachel for comment on her decision to leave Sky Sports.
