Football pundit Jamie Carragher has addressed the backlash following his comments about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which many interpreted as dismissive. The former Liverpool defender faced criticism after suggesting that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or were slim because he wasn’t competing in a “major tournament,” referencing AFCON.
Speaking on a broadcast show after Tuesday’s Champions League, Carragher admitted that his choice of words was poorly phrased. “What I would never want to be described as, as a pundit, would be ignorant or disrespectful. That was never my aim, whether that’s to a player, a club, a country, a continent, an international tournament—whatever that may be,” he stated.
Carragher clarified that his comment was based on historical voting trends for the Ballon d’Or, rather than his personal view on AFCON’s importance. “Where I got it wrong was I was clumsy with my language in describing AFCON as not a major tournament. I was trying to explain the merits of Mo Salah winning the Ballon d’Or, and I feel that not just AFCON but also tournaments like the Asia Games and Gold Cup don’t resonate with the people who vote for the award,” he explained.
He further acknowledged that historically, Ballon d’Or voting has favored competitions like the UEFA European Championship. “Sometimes we forget that the Ballon d’Or was originally the European Footballer of the Year award,” he noted, suggesting that this could influence voting biases.
Carragher, a strong supporter of Salah’s Ballon d’Or ambitions, expressed regret over the negative response but reiterated that he did not intend to offend anyone.
