Plans to sell Wembley Stadium have been described as “absolutely ridiculous” and “nonsense” by former England assistant manager Gary Neville, who called for a levy on agent fees to help fund grass-roots football.

Neville told MPs that the Football Association would be wrong to sell a “national asset” such as Wembley to a foreign bidder. He added that claims the sale would earn grass-roots football an extra £70 million per year were “not enough” to ­justify giving up the stadium.

Appearing before the Department for Culture, Media and Sport committee, Neville said there were several other ways to improve the grass-roots game that did not require the sale.

The FA is considering the proposed offer of £600 million from Fulham owner Shahid Khan, and the Government has called several witnesses as part of an inquiry into the sale.

The FA says the sale could transform community football facilities. Neville said he had sympathy for the FA, which is looking to increase investment by £70 million a year to £100 million annually on artificial pitches, grass pitches, coaching and other initiatives. Under the plan, the governing body would retain rights for the Club Wembley hospitality venture, which it values at £250-£300 million.

But Neville told MPs there were other ways money could be generated, such as through a levy on agents’ fees. “Place a 25 per cent levy on agent fees, that money’s disappearing from out of the game,” he said. “There’s your £70 million. Don’t sell Wembley – whatever you do, don’t sell Wembley.”