Football analyst Jamie Carragher has responded to backlash concerning his earlier statements about the Africa Cup of Nations, which many interpreted as dismissive.
The former Liverpool defender faced criticism after he remarked that Mohamed Salah's prospects of winning the Ballon d'Or were diminished due to his absence from a "major tournament," specifically referencing AFCON.
During a discussion on a broadcast following Tuesday's Champions League matches, Carragher admitted that his wording was unfortunate.
"I would never want to be perceived as ignorant or disrespectful as a pundit. That was never my intention, whether it pertains to a player, a club, a country, a continent, or an international tournament," he remarked.
Carragher clarified that his comments were based on historical voting patterns for the Ballon d'Or rather than a personal assessment of AFCON's importance.
"My error lay in my clumsy language when I referred to AFCON as not a major tournament. I aimed to highlight the factors influencing Mo Salah's chances of winning the Ballon d'Or, and I believe that not only AFCON but also events like the Asia Games and Gold Cup do not resonate with the voters of the award," he explained.
He further pointed out that the voting for the Ballon d'Or has traditionally favoured competitions such as the UEFA European Championship.
"We sometimes overlook that the Ballon d'Or was initially the European Footballer of the Year award," he noted, suggesting that this history may contribute to biases in voting behavior.
Carragher, a strong advocate for Salah's Ballon d'Or candidacy, acknowledged the criticism he received but stressed that he did not mean to offend anyone.
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