Jamie Carragher has admitted that he was wrong to dismiss the Africa Cup of Nations as not a 'big tournament' – but is behind a 'awkward' comment in his reasoning.
The Liverpool -legend believes that there may be a 'bias' against Afcon in Ballon d'Or stops that stars, such as Mohamed Salah.
Carragher was confronted with widespread criticism, as well as support, when he submitted the claim to the status of Afcon, and insists that he did not mean anyone for someone.
“I have very strong opinions about the game, I love debate, and that will never change,” he told CBS Sports' Golazo Show – his first performance on television since he made the claim on Sky Sports more than a week ago.
'But what I would never want to be described as, as an expert, is ignorant or disrespectful, so that was never my goal. And whether that is for a player, a club, a country, a continent, a continental tournament, whatever that is.
'What I would say is where I was wrong, I was awkward to describe Afcon as not a big tournament. I tried to explain the merits of Mo Salah that the Ballon d'Or won, and I feel that not only Afcon, I would say the Asia games, the Gold Cup, not so much the Copa America, but there are five major tournaments next to the World Cup that are for their continent and are a big tournament and a big tournament.
'But some of them do not resonate with the people who vote for the Ballon d'Or. And that was not an opinion for me, that was a fact in terms of looking that the Ballon d'Or had won in the last 40 or 50 years.
'Yes, I hit the drum for Mo Salah to become the first African player who wins the Ballon d'Or since George Weah in the mid -90s. Like I said, I should have been a lot nicer with my language around it, so yes, that's something I will look at.
'But as I said, you will look at the euros where it is now, and other competitions, and some of them resonate with the Ballon d'Or voters, who are sometimes journalists, national coaches, national captains.
'And one of the reasons can be, sometimes we forget the Ballon d'Or The European Footballer of the Year. So maybe there is a preference for the euros or European football in the past.
'It was absolutely not my goal to insult someone – I know that in the past I have done a lot in different forms about different players and teams. But that was certainly not the case. Yes, hopefully that has been tackled now. '
Carragher was originally called by Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards during Sky Sports' Post-Match Analysis of the 2-0 victory of Liverpool over Manchester City on February 23.
Since then he has been criticized by people like Rio Ferdinand, Ahmed Elmohamady, Jay-Jay Okocha and John Obi Mikel, who did not tell him uncertain conditions to be 'f *** off'.
However, there was also a lot of sympathy for people who thought he was just wrong by explaining why Salah is at a disadvantage when it comes to killing.
Ballon d'Or winners have often tasted glory in the Champions League or an international tournament – usually the European Championship or Copa America. No African star has won the gong since George Weah in 1995, while Sadio Mane finished second in the 2022 edition.
Carragher originally said: 'I think the problem is that he (Salah) is at Egypt, and he probably does not play in a big tournament as such, or perhaps has a big chance to win, I think it is the Champions League or the big tournament (that is necessary to win the prize).
'Normally, the player who excels (it wins), such as Vini JR and (Kylian) Mbappe at the moment, Real Madrid looks really good for the Champions League.
“Liverpool will be in that conversation, but at the moment (really) will be the precursor.”
Richards hit back: “To say, Afcon is an important tournament because many people are at home and say,” They don't take it seriously “. Afcon is a big tournament, just so that you know. '
Carragher then answered by asking if Egypt would claim to win the World Cup next year, to which the former City defender of the man replied: 'No, but Afcon is great, right?
“You remember that he and mane went for it and …”
Carragher then replied 'Oh God', before Sturridge brought the matter to you: 'It is a fact. It's a fact. It's a fact. If you win the euros or Copa America, it is considered a big one, so that the AFCON is at the same level. '
Many ex-pros were unhappy. John Obi Mikel, a finon winner of 2013 at Nigeria, said on his One Obi Podcast: 'It is so disrespectful what he said, and this comes from someone who has never won a major international competition with England.
“His statement was absolutely wrong. I hope he will come out and make an enormous apology because he owes people around the world an apology. [It was] Unaware of respecting such a beautiful tournament.
'If you think the Premier League would be what it is today with only the English players that you have a laughing mate.
'The grin on his face, the arrogant f *** ing grin on his face to fire … That grin on his face is absolutely what tipped me. You have people who try to correct you and you come out and absolutely attacks everyone and discredit this beautiful tournament.
'The man says so many things on TV, has never won the Premier League, analyzes teams and tells them that you have to win the Premier League.
'You never won it, you don't know what is needed to win the F *** ING Premier League, you don't know what it takes to win with your national team. You cannot discredit such a beautiful, beautiful tournament. People in Africa die for the Africa Cup of Nations.
'I am angry, I am angry, he has spent so many years playing for Liverpool, he did not win the F *** ING Premier League. He sits there for week, week out, tells and teaches people who try to tell people how to win the Premier League. You didn't win.
'Africans look at you at the weekend and you sit there, open your mouth and put the entire F *** ING the African continent in discredit. He can get rid of it. We know in Africa what we bring to the Premier League.
'If you won the euros with England, I may understand that if you won a big tournament with England, I may understand that. You won F *** all with England. Fall. And you are trying to discredit the tournament I have won, to pre -throw blood and tears? '
Okocha, who scored 14 goals in 73 games for Nigeria and Afcon won in 1994, said: 'There are some players who will say something, but you just overlook it.
'If you look at their career, if you watch the kind of football they have played … then you can understand.
“I mean, you don't want your son to be like Carragher. So you can never appreciate African football (if you are like that) – and all the talents that come from Africa. '
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