AFCON Controversy: Carragher admits his mistake

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has acknowledged his misstep in comments regarding the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Carragher faced criticism after referring to AFCON as a “small tournament,” sparking backlash over his choice of words.

“I love debates, but what I never want to be seen as is ignorant or disrespectful. That was never my intention—whether towards a team, a player, a continent, or a tournament,” he said on CBS Sports Golazo’s UEFA Champions League show.

“Where I went wrong was in how I phrased it. I was clumsy in describing AFCON as not a major tournament. My point was about Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances, and I meant that, like AFCON, the Asian Cup and the Gold Cup don’t always carry the same weight with those who vote for the award. There are five major continental tournaments outside the World Cup.

“However, historically, some of these tournaments haven’t resonated with Ballon d’Or voters—and that’s not just an opinion, it’s a fact. The history of the award over the past 40-50 years reflects that.

“I’ve long supported Salah’s bid to become the first African player to win the Ballon d’Or since George Weah in the mid-’90s. I should have been more precise in my wording. But if you look at how the Euros are perceived, they tend to have more influence on journalists, national coaches, and captains who decide the award.

“One reason for this is that the Ballon d’Or was originally a European football award, which may explain a bias toward European competitions. Offending anyone was never my aim.”