England’s new women’s soccer coach issues apology

Phil Neville apologized Wednesday for misogynistic and sexist comments he made on Twitter that have overshadowed his appointment as coach of England’s women’s national soccer team and led to calls for him to be charged by the Football Association.

“I would like to clarify that they were not and are not a true and genuine reflection of either my character or beliefs,” the former Manchester United player said of tweets he posted in 2011 and 2012.

Neville deleted his Twitter account soon after being announced Tuesday as the coach. His tweets were already in the public domain by then.

Neville wrote in 2011: “Relax, I’m back chilled- just battered the wife!!! Feel better now!”

In another post in 2012, Neville — asked why women would not be watching cricket on television — responded by saying he thought they would be “busy preparing breakfast/getting kids ready/making beds.”

Later that year, he tweeted women “always wanted equality until it comes to paying the bills #hypocrites.”

Anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said Neville’s appointment “raises more questions than answers” and questioned whether he should be charged by the FA for posting discriminatory comments.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn said Neville’s comments “would not meet the threshold for issuing a charge against any participants” and the coach would be educated on all aspects of the FA’s regulations.

The Women’s Sport Trust charity was also critical of Neville and the FA, saying: “In the age of MeToo and TimesUp, all individuals and organizations must be more aware of past sexist behaviour and respond to it appropriately.”

British sports minister Tracey Crouch said, “Sexism of any kind must not be tolerated.”