Inside Jamie Carragher vs Rio Ferdinand: AFCON row, 'clown' digs, Cristiano Ronaldo spat

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher's controversial comments on the Africa Cup of Nations have escalated his feud with ex-team-mate Rio Ferdinand.

Carragher and Ferdinand, who locked horns in the Premier League while representing rivals Liverpool and Manchester United, played alongside each other for England during the 2000s, competing for a centre-back spot. But there's been no love lost between the pair since moving into punditry.

Their latest spat came on Monday following Carragher's comments about AFCON and how they'd affect Mo Salah in his quest to win the Ballon d'Or. The former Liverpool defender was attempting to make the point that the tournament wasn't a 'major' one in the eyes of voters, and that other players from weaker footballing nations have had to rely on their achievements at club level.

Ferdinand acknowledged that many fans would agree with Carragher's comments but labelled those people 'ignorant'. "That comment is representative of the majority of people out there, I think it's an ignorant thought process," Ferdinand claimed on his YouTube channel.

"If you go to Didier Drogba, [Samuel] Eto'o, [Riyad] Mahrez, Salah now, they'll say, 'we have to win this' yes it doesn't get backed like the Euros investment wise, but that doesn't mean you have to devalue it, it's a continent of huge power that contributes to European football massively.

"It should be respected more than it is. I understand what Jamie's saying but I don't agree with it, that's a majority view and it's not right. What Jamie's saying, and he's right, if Salah won AFCON, it would have no bearing on anyone's voting on the Ballon d'Or and that's wrong, that was one of the parts he was arguing about."

Ferdinand shared a clip of the video on Instagram and Carragher replied: "I didn't say that you clown, stop playing to the gallery like you always do." In response, Ferdinand said: "You've had a bad couple a weeks... [Myles] Lewis Skelly & Pep [Guardiola]...."

That isn't the first time that the pair have clashed on social media - and the word 'clown' has been thrown about before.

Whose side are you on - Jamie Carragher or Rio Ferdinand's? Have your say in the comments section.

Carragher's 'clown dig' baffles Ferdinand

In May 2023, as Inter Milan beat city rivals AC in a Champions League semi-final first leg 2-0, Carragher criticised Ferdinand's opinion over a penalty decision. The referee initially gave a spot kick after Inter striker Lautaro Martinez was fouled inside the box, only for VAR to overturn it.

Despite the decision, Ferdinand still felt that it was a '"stonewall' penalty - as did ex-Liverpool captain and Carragher's good friend, Steven Gerrard. But it was Ferdinand who bore the brunt of Carragher's criticism because he was a defender, whereas Gerrard was 'an attacking player'.

"I think anyone out there who is watching the replay and seeing what VAR do and still believe that is a penalty, they must be a clown," Carragher stated on CBS Sports. "When players in my position, English defenders who are commentating, I'm putting myself in their shoes. Rio Ferdinand, I'm happy to call him a clown."

That dig left Ferdinand confused, saying on his podcast: "Every time I see him it's all love man. I'm a loving guy, we hug and we shake hands and have a little laugh. I don't understand why he came in with hostility, it's a hostile energy and I don't understand it.

"He's been on our show, we see each other and it's all cool. He used to carry my boots when we were with England, he always showed me love."

Carragher responded with a meme of former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys infamously saying 'it was just banter'.

Earlier that season, following Liverpool's memorable 7-0 win against United at Anfield, Ferdinand took aim at Carragher, Graeme Souness and Jurgen Klopp's players for showing a 'small club mentality', as they lost 1-0 to Bournemouth six days later.

"The way Souness and Carragher were celebrating, the way they were trying to antagonise the guys [Roy Keane and Gary Neville], and then their team goes and does that at the weekend," the ex-United centre-back said. "They should be ashamed of themselves."

The Ronaldo debate

Cristiano Ronaldo - help or hinderance? That was the debate in late 2021 when after his sensational honeymoon period back at United, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's powers began to wane.

United icon Keane and Sky Sports colleague Carragher clashed live on air over whether Ronaldo would help them win trophies and it didn't take long for Ferdinand to chime in on Twitter. "Carragher, stop arguing about league titles with a man that's won multiple league titles!" he snapped.

Carragher hit back, suggesting that Ferdinand helped engineer Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford and questioned in his loyalty. "Not talking titles but the deal for Ronaldo to Man Utd which you arranged," he wrote. "No PL for me but Sky like my opinions! No trophies in your career without AF (Sir Alex Ferguson) & when you stopped winning PL at MU you tried to move to Chelsea so please stop giving it the big MU fan one!"

'Fan boy' Ferdinand

But the Ronaldo saga didn't stop there. The following season, when United manager Erik ten Hag was having trouble managing his No.7, he was left on the bench for their humiliating 6-3 loss to Manchester City.

Ten Hag explained his decision to keep him on the bench by saying that it was 'out of respect' given Ronaldo's illustrious career. Carragher felt he was justified but Ferdinand didn't agree, believing that the forward - even at 37 - should've been on the pitch.

After Ferdinand shared a clip explaining his stance, Carragher replied: 'Rio I know how it works, he's your mate & you/[Patrice] Evra & the rest are on the group WhatsApp & he asks you to come out & defend him, don't be his fan boy you're Rio Ferdinand for FFS!!"

Ferdinand laughed off the accusations, implying that Carragher needed to be as vocal on TV when stronger personalities - such as Keane - are around. "What WhatsApp group?! Leave off lad… I want this same energy with Roy Keane when ya next in the studio. Stop getting bullied," Ferdinand told him.

Where Ronaldo went, the debate followed. In the summer of 2023, as the Saudi Pro League began to splash the cash and target big-name European players, Carragher expressed his concern that should they sign Man City's Bernardo Silva, it'd be a watershed moment for football - and, in his opinion, not a good one.

Soon after, Gerrard was appointed manager of Al-Ettifaq. Ferdinand called Carragher out and wanted his opinion, asking: "Jamie Carragher, where are you man? I heard a lot of talk, a lot of negativity about Saudi. 'Oh, Bernardo Silva, I can't believe it. It's a disgrace, it needs investigating, this league,' etc.

"Steven Gerrard's gone. You used to carry his boots and his bag at Anfield to games. Your boy's gone over there and I've not heard a peep out of you. I've not heard how disappointed you are. I want to see him say, 'I can't believe Stevie's gone there.'

"I'm actually buzzing for any of the guys who have gone out to Saudi - because it's Saudi, people are going mad, but all these other countries and leagues over the years have done exactly the same thing."

Carragher fired back, stating: "I never criticised Silva, [Karim] Benzema, [Ruben] Neves or SG [Gerrard], I don't like Saudi trying to buy football like they have golf. I knew you'd be all over it like you were in Qatar! That's why you refused to do the opening game for BBC, didn't want to criticise your paymaster!"

Ferdinand was part of the BBC's team of pundits at the Qatar World Cup in 2022 and he didn't speak out on their poor human right's record. Carragher, meanwhile, stayed at home, only offering analysis for Sky Sports in the UK.

"Fake news," Ferdinand replied to the aforementioned post. "I'm a man that embraces all cultures - join the club, no need to fabricate James! I was never asked to do the opener. I never saw uproar from you and others when the PL, Serie A, PSG, Barcelona, RM (Real Madrid), Russia etcetera were plucking the best talent from other leagues… keep the same energy!!"

Carragher then defending himself by claiming: "I wasn't fabricating I was told that by a few people, probably what happened with you over the Qataris buying Man United a few weeks ago! If you think the Saudi league buying players is the same as the other leagues we will have to disagree!!"

Ferdinand kept it going and declared: "The facts are…. You disrespected the league/country/culture but kept (quiet) when ur 2 boys Stevie/[Robbie] Fowler went 10 days later."

Carragher replied in what was the end of their argument: "You're going back to tweet one! You're so desperate for a gig out there."

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