Football pundit and former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, has apologized for his controversial remarks about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following widespread criticism.
Carragher had suggested that Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or were slim because he was not competing in a “major tournament,” referring to AFCON. His comments sparked backlash, with many accusing him of downplaying the tournament’s significance.
Speaking on a broadcast after Tuesday’s Champions League match, 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, or an international tournament,” he said.
Carragher clarified that his argument was based on historical trends in Ballon d’Or voting rather than his personal opinion of AFCON.
“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 pointed out that the Ballon d’Or has traditionally favored European tournaments like the UEFA European Championship, noting that the award was originally created as the European Footballer of the Year prize.
Carragher, who has been vocal in supporting Salah’s Ballon d’Or candidacy, acknowledged the backlash but stressed that he did not intend to offend anyone.
