Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United defender, has taken aim at Jamie Carragher following some controversial remarks about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Ferdinand didn’t hold back, branding Carragher’s comments as “ignorant.”
The uproar began after Liverpool celebrated a 2-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday. In the post-match analysis, Carragher insinuated that Mohamed Salah’s chances of clinching the Ballon d’Or were slim because he plays for Egypt rather than a top-tier European country.
Salah’s performance has been nothing short of extraordinary. With 25 goals across 27 matches, he’s now the sixth-highest goal scorer in the Premier League’s history. Despite these impressive stats, the highest he’s ever ranked for the Ballon d’Or is fifth place.
Carragher remarked on Sky Sports, saying, “I think the problem is the fact he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in the major tournament or maybe got a great chance of winning. It’s either the Champions League or the major tournament that wins the Ballon d’Or.”
Micah Richards, who was also in the studio, was quick to counter Carragher’s view. “Just to be clear, AFCON is a major tournament. Many people take it seriously, and it’s crucial, just so you know,” he pointed out.
Backing Richards’ sentiments, Rio Ferdinand took to his YouTube channel to address Carragher’s statements and highlight the common misconceptions surrounding AFCON.
Carragher later attempted to clarify his stance on social media, tweeting, “Salah/AFCON/Balon d’or! The point I was trying to make yesterday was that MO Salah is at a disadvantage playing for Egypt in terms of him winning the Ballon d’Or. If Salah had an average season at LFC but won the AFCON & was MVP, I don’t think he would win the Ballon d’Or.”
Ferdinand, responding to Carragher, asserted, “That comment is reflective of what many people think. It’s an ignorant viewpoint because AFCON is vital to players like Didier Drogba, Abedi Pele, Samuel Eto’o, Riyad Mahrez, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mane. They strive to win it.”
He added, “I see where Jamie’s coming from, but I disagree. The majority’s mindset needs to shift.”
Carragher was quick to fire back at Ferdinand via Instagram, saying, “I didn’t say that you clown. Stop pandering to the crowd.”
He then took to another social media platform to further elucidate his perspective. “The crux of my argument was Mohamed Salah’s challenging position, being at a disadvantage for the Ballon d’Or because he plays for Egypt. For instance, if Salah had a standard LFC season yet won AFCON and was MVP, I doubt he’d clinch the Ballon d’Or.”
He continued, “I don’t believe AFCON holds the same influence as other tournaments. For example, should Mbappe have a standard season at Real Madrid but win the World Cup or Euros, he would still be a front-runner. It’s just my personal view about these tournaments.”
Carragher did admit his comments could have been phrased better. “Calling it not a major competition was clumsy. But I think the essence of my argument was clear to most viewers.”
