GARY NEVILLE has won a global football ambassador gong months after helping put the brakes on unpopular plans for a European Super League.
The ex-Man United player was honoured for his ‘impact’ on the game off the pitch with a prize previously awarded to Sir Bobby Charlton.
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Football Business Awards organisers say Neville is being recognised for creating ‘change within his communities for the wider business of football and for the engagement and representation of fans within the game.’
The Sky Sports pundit shared a post on Twitter with his 4.7million followers stating he was ‘honoured’ to win the prize.
Neville, 46, was an outspoken opponent of plans for a breakaway league in Europe which involved six of the Prem’s biggest sides.
Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City initially joined six other European sides in the scheme earlier this year.
However all six clubs withdrew from the project following a backlash from fans, MPs and pundits including Neville.
The Old Trafford hero would later go on to launch a campaign calling for the introduction of an independent regulator to prevent plans for a breakaway happening in secret.
And the petition backing the call has received more than 142,800 signatures to date with Neville and Gary Lineker among the high profile figures plugging it on Twitter.
The Football Business Awards are have been celebrated by clubs in the Premier League, the Scottish Prem and the EFL
Past recipients of their Global Ambassador prize include West Ham legend Sir Trevor Brooking and Arsenal hero Tony Adams.
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Simon Burton, co-founder of the awards, said: “The last year has shown how important football is to so many people.
“The way in which the football clubs and the businesses that support them have risen to the challenge of the pandemic proves this is no ordinary business.
“It is at the heart of communities everywhere and we are honoured to celebrate these outstanding achievements and initiatives.”
