Gary Neville faces contempt of court action over alleged Ryan Giggs comment

Gary Neville is facing contempt of court action following a comment he made during pal Ryan Giggs' trial.

The former Manchester United defender has been referred to the Attorney General after Judge Hilary Manley learned of Neville's comment, which was included in a tweet the 47-year-old posted at 4am on the opening day of court proceedings.

It is understood that Neville insists he was speaking about the owners of Manchester United, and not about former team-mate Giggs' trial, with his agent telling the Daily Mail: "Gary is absolutely adamant that this was not about the case, but was referring to the Glazers.

"Any suggestion otherwise is not true and he will take it very seriously."

Judge Manley delayed the hearing at Manchester Crown Court to deliberate whether Neville's comment was known to the jury and could be potentially prejudicial.

"Both the prosecution and defence agreed with me, in the absence of any comment from the jury, and given my clear direction, the trial could properly continue," Judge Manley told the court.

"However, given the author is a person with a high public profile…it could be seen to be an attempt to influence ongoing criminal proceedings and could be contempt of court.

"Accordingly, I am referring the matter to the office of the Attorney General for the consideration of a potential prosecution."

If proven, the offence carries a fine or up to two years in prison.

The Contempt of Court Act 1981 bans anyone from unfairly influencing a court case and preventing a fair trial. It restricts what can be said publicly about whether a defendant is guilty or innocent, and it stops any facts or evidence from being published which the jury were not supposed to see.

Both Neville and former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson have featured in evidence during Giggs' trial, though only Ferguson has physically appeared in court.

Neville and Giggs came through the United ranks together as part of the fabled 'Class of 92' group which also featured the likes of David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.

They both spent the entirety of their careers at Old Trafford, with Neville retiring in 2011, and Giggs in 2014.

Giggs' trial, meanwhile, collapsed on Wednesday as the jury failed to reach a verdict.

He has been standing accused of headbutting his former girlfriend Kate Greville and assaulting her younger sister Emma Greville on the night of November 1, 2020. The ex-Wales manager was also accused of behaving in a controlling and coercive manner towards his ex between August 2017 and November 2020. He denied all charges.

The jury of seven women and four men has now been discharged. Prosecution lawyers have asked for seven days to consider if they will pursue a retrial which if the judge said would not be able to happed until June 5 next year.

Lawyers must now consider the public interest of a potential retrial to take place in the summer of 2023.

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