Manchester United: Nike deny Gary Neville's claims

Gary Neville's claims that Nike might look to gain commercial advantage from football's latest anti-racism campaign have been strenuously denied by the sportswear manufacturers. The England defender looked to have provoked a possible confrontation with Nike, who sponsor Manchester United's kit, by making his outspoken comments after Wednesday night's international friendly against Holland.

Nike have been to the fore of the campaign to drum racism out of the world game since England's friendly against Spain last November, when the Bernabeu crowd aimed monkey chants at the likes of Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips. Neville welcomed the anti-racism initiatives taken by England and Holland at Villa Park but suggested the campaign might be "cheapened slightly by companies like Nike getting a lot of PR out of it for nothing".

Yet Nike UK's corporate communications manager, Simon Charlesworth, insisted there was no ulterior motive to their campaigning, despite Neville's claims.

Sportinglife

hes prop right, they are doing a good thing and no matter what, it will get then publicity. and its easy enough to say we aint doing it for that, its to help out but they still get it