Football pundit Jamie Carragher has addressed criticism regarding his previous comments about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which many viewed as dismissive.
The former Liverpool defender faced backlash after suggesting that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or were slim because he wasn’t competing in a “major tournament,” referring to AFCON.
Speaking on a broadcast show after Tuesday’s Champions League, Carragher admitted that his wording was poorly chosen.
“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 said.
Carragher explained that his point was based on historical trends in Ballon d’Or voting, rather than his personal opinion about AFCON’s importance.
“I got it wrong by clumsily describing AFCON as not a major tournament. I was attempting to explain why Mo Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or were slim, but I feel tournaments like AFCON, the Asia Games, and the Gold Cup are often overlooked by those who vote for the award,” he clarified.
Carragher also pointed out that Ballon d’Or voting has historically 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 added, suggesting this could contribute to voting biases.
Carragher, a strong supporter of Salah’s Ballon d’Or candidacy, emphasized that he never intended to offend anyone with his comments.
