AFCON Controversy: I was misinterpreted – Carragher

Former England international Jamie Carragher has clarified his comments about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stating that his words were misinterpreted.

Carragher faced backlash after referring to AFCON as a “small tournament,” but he has now sought to clear the air, emphasizing that he did not intend to undermine the competition.

“I love debates, but what I would never want to be described as is ignorant or disrespectful. That was never my aim—whether regarding a team, a player, a continent, or a tournament,”

Carragher said on CBS Sports Golazo’s UEFA Champions League show.

“Where I went wrong was in the way I phrased it. I was clumsy in describing AFCON as not a major tournament. My point was about Mo Salah’s Ballon d’Or chances, and I felt that—not just AFCON, but also the Asian Cup and Gold Cup—are not always considered on the same level as other tournaments. There are five continental competitions besides the World Cup, but not all of them carry the same weight with Ballon d’Or voters. That’s not an opinion; it’s a fact when you look at past winners over the last 40-50 years.

“I’ve always supported Salah in his quest to become the first African Ballon d’Or winner since George Weah in the mid-1990s. However, I should have been more careful with my wording. The European Championship, for example, resonates more with the journalists, national coaches, and captains who vote for the award.

“One key factor is that the Ballon d’Or was originally focused on European football, which may contribute to a bias in favour of European competitions. It was never my intention to offend anyone,” he explained.