Football pundit Jamie Carragher has responded to criticism over his recent comments about the Africa Cup of Nations, which many felt were dismissive.
The former Liverpool defender faced backlash after suggesting Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or were low because he was not playing in a “major tournament,” referring to AFCON.
Speaking on a broadcast after Tuesday’s Champions League matches, Carragher admitted that his wording was poorly chosen.
“What I would never want to be as a pundit is ignorant or disrespectful. That was never my intention—whether towards a player, a club, a country, a continent, or an international tournament,” he stated.
Carragher clarified that his point was about historical Ballon d’Or voting trends rather than his personal opinion on AFCON’s importance.
“Where I got it wrong was in clumsily describing AFCON as not a major tournament. I was trying to discuss Mo Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or, and I feel that not just AFCON but also tournaments like the Asia Games and Gold Cup don’t have the same impact on those who vote for the award,” he explained.
He also pointed out that the Ballon d’Or has traditionally favoured tournaments 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 history could influence voting patterns.
Carragher, who has been vocal in supporting Salah’s Ballon d’Or case, acknowledged the backlash but insisted that he never meant to offend anyone.
