Gary Neville kicked off Have I Got News For You with an X-rated joke about Anfield before being left to squirm after a question about his decision to work for beIN Sports during the World Cup was asked.
The former Manchester United defender was hosting the BBC programme, which aired on Fright night. It was the first time he had anchored the show.
As well as Neville, comedian Maisie Adam and broadcaster Richard Madeley joined regular captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton. And the former right-back couldn’t help but get a cheeky Liverpool dig in during the opening minutes of the show.
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As he introduced Madeley, Neville remarked: "On Paul's team tonight is a TV presenter who in a recent interview said, 'it's important not to care about being called a w*****'. I wish I'd known that when I took my first throw-in at Anfield."
However, Neville was soon left to squirm after being grilled on his decision to work for Qatar state-owned broadcaster beIN Sports at the World Cup, which starts this month. Qatar's human rights record has been heavily scrutinised in the years since they were awarded the World Cup by FIFA - with human rights groups furious at the lack of answers over deaths of migrant workers.
The panellists were discussing the topic of members of the LGBT+ community being told recently they should 'flex and compromise' at the tournament by UK foreign secretary James Cleverly.
Kicking things off, Madeley said: "It's unbelievable and it's all about money and you've got mainline celebrities going over there for huge cheques. You've got people like Robbie [Williams] going out there to sing.
"Which I must say I'm very surprised about given all the comments that Robbie Williams has made in the past about gay rights. The fact that he's going out there to sing is extraordinary. I don't know what's happened to people. And it's not just him, the Black Eyed Peas are going, aren't they?"
Merton then asked Neville: "But you know David Beckham, don't you? He's going, isn't he? How much is he being paid?"
"I don't know," Neville sheepishly replied. "More than me!" before he switched to Hislop and asked if 'it's coming home?'
"What, your reputation?' was his reply before the editor of Private Eye claimed he felt other panellists had been 'very gentle' with Neville and he wanted to address the 'elephant in the room'.
"The elephant in the room is you're commentating there. What's the defence?" Hislop asked.
"Yeah, I'm commentating," Neville said. "Well, you've got a choice, haven't you? My view always has been that you either highlight the issues and challenges in these countries and speak about them, or you basically don't say anything and stay back home and don't go. And I think we should challenge them."
Hislop then responded, saying: “The other option is you stay at home and highlight the abuses. You don't have to take the Qataris' money. It's just not a very good defence.”
Neville shrugged off the comments with a smile as the audience applauded. Taking to Twitter after the show, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher praised his fellow Sky Sports pundit for stepping out of his 'comfort zone' and taking a 'few blows'.
He wrote: "Well done @GNev2 hosting #hignfy went out of his comfort zone & took a few blows but was still standing by the end!"
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