NEVILLE FIASCO

FA warning to new women’s manager over Twitter storm

PHIL NEVILLE’S first day as manager of the England women’s football team was marked by a warning from the FA over his conduct.

A public outcry over a series of posts on Twitter, including one in July 2011 in which Neville declared he had ‘ just battered the wife’, forced the FA to make a statement condemning the 41-year-old former Manchester United and England defender in yet another PR disaster for the beleaguered governing body.

Neville responded to accusations of sexism and misogyny by issuing an apology via his new employers but pressure, in particular from Kick It Out and the Government, gave the FA no choice but to condemn Neville and also justify the controversial appointment of a man ahead of female candidates when he has no managerial experience.

Neville had initially deactivated a Twitter account with more than 1.5million