Jamie Carragher responds as Rio Ferdinand leads widespread criticism over Africa Cup of Nations view

Jamie Carragher has launched a press release on social media over his feedback in regards to the significance of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Liverpool nice flippantly commented that the continental competitors isn’t a ‘main event’ and has loads of knockbacks.

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Carragher was discussing Mohamed Salah’s type on the time following one other purpose and help in a 2-0 win over Manchester Metropolis when the topic switched to his Ballon d’Or probabilities.

The Egyptian is at the moment the betting favorite to say soccer’s greatest particular person prize, having by no means completed larger than fifth beforehand.

On prime of that, the 32-year-old wasn’t even within the 30-man shortlist in 2024, and completed eleventh in 2023.

Making an attempt to elucidate why he’d by no means been larger, Carragher mentioned: “I believe the issue is the actual fact he’s with Egypt, and he’s in all probability not enjoying within the main event as such or possibly received an amazing probability of successful.

“I believe it’s both the Champions League or the main event [that wins it], the participant who excels in that, like Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe proper now.

Micah Richards then had a fast enter, saying: “I’ll simply say, AFCON is a serious event.

“Lots of people at house will say they’re taking that significantly. AFCON is a serious event, simply so you understand.”

Daniel Sturridge, a former teammate of Carragher’s at Liverpool, agreed along with his fellow ex-Manchester Metropolis participant, including: “It’s a truth, it’s a truth.

“When you win the Euros or the Copa America it’s deemed to be huge, so AFCON is on the identical stage.”

Carragher muttered ‘oh my god’ throughout the debate, and seemed to the digital camera in shock.

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Nonetheless, he could be shocked by the criticism he’s acquired, with Salah’s former Egypt teammate Ahmed Elmohamady taking to social media to voice his opinion.

“Jamie Carragher doesn’t know what main tournaments are as a result of he by no means gained one,” the previous Sunderland, Hull and Aston Villa right-back wrote. 

“AFCON is a Main Event. So proud to have gained it twice.”

Elmohamady gained the continental competitors in 2008 and 2010, with Salah not that includes in these triumphs earlier than twice dropping in finals in 2017 and 2021.

Carragher by no means reached a closing with England, though he did win the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005.

The pundit has additionally clashed with Salah earlier than on account of his opinions, and accomplished the identical with Rio Ferdinand, who has chimed in on this debate too.

Talking on his YouTube channel, the previous Manchester United defender mentioned: “That remark is consultant of the vast majority of folks on the market, I believe it’s an ignorant thought course of. 

“When you go to Didier Drogba [Samuel] Eto’o, [Riyad] Mahrez, Salah now, they’ll say ‘we now have to win this’ sure it doesn’t get backed just like the Euros funding clever, however that doesn’t imply it’s a must to devalue it, it’s a continent of big energy that contributes to European soccer massively. 

“It must be revered greater than it’s. I perceive what Jamie’s saying however I don’t agree with it, that’s a majority view and it’s not proper.

“What Jamie’s saying, and he’s proper, if Salah gained AFCON, it will haven’t any bearing on anybody’s voting on the Ballon d’Or and that’s improper, that was one of many components he was arguing about.”

Carragher known as Ferdinand a ‘clown’ in response to this criticism on Instagram and has taken to his X account to handle the criticism as an entire, admitting his feedback had been ‘clumsy’.

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“The purpose I used to be attempting to make yesterday was that Mo Salah is at an obstacle enjoying for Egypt by way of him successful the Ballon d’Or,” he started.

“If Salah had a median season at LFC however gained the AFCON & was MVP [most valuable player] I don’t assume he would win the Balon d’Or as a result of I don’t assume AFCON carries the load of different tournaments.

“But when Mbappe had a median season at Actual Madrid however gained the World Cup/Euros he would nonetheless have an amazing alternative.

“It’s not nearly sure tournaments, [Andriy] Shevchenko (Ukraine) [Robert] Lewandowski (Poland) had been by no means going to win the World Cup/Euros to assist their case for the prize. I don’t assume it’s controversial in any respect actually it’s only a truth.”

Addressing Mane’s runners-up end within the Ballon d’Or rankings, he continued: “I do know Mane got here 2nd a number of years again after successful the event however that alone wouldn’t have gotten him to that place, it was LFC being two video games away from a quadruple that performed an enormous function additionally.

“It’s not disrespectful if I really feel the WC/Euros/CP are higher tournaments it’s simply my opinion after I watch them. Saying it wasn’t a serious competitors was clumsy however I believe most individuals watching may perceive the purpose I used to be attempting to make.”

He then addressed the look to digital camera he made and why he’d taken to social media to reply.

“The face I pulled when Micah interjected was nothing to do with the deserves of the event,” he mentioned.

“I simply knew as quickly as he did what the response was going to be! I get quite a bit folks didn’t like what I mentioned and that’s advantageous.

“I don’t usually reply to issues on right here with posts like this butI determined to tweet ultimately after seeing so many phoneys leaping on the bandwagon and enjoying to the gallery once they knew what I meant.

“Good luck MO you little dancer.”