Former Chelsea and Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel has told Jamie Carragher that he can ‘f*** off’ after the pundit made ‘disrespectful’ comments about the Africa Cup of Nations.
Carragher has faced criticism for downplaying the Africa Cup of Nations, claiming it is not a major tournament while discussing Mohamed Salah’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or this year.
Speaking on Sky Sports after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, Carragher suggested that Salah’s nationality and Egypt’s international record could hinder his chances of claiming football’s top individual award.
“I think the problem [is] the fact he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in the major tournament as such or maybe got a great chance of winning,” Carragher said.
“I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament. Normally, the player who excels in that, like Vini Jr. and (Kylian) Mbappe right now, Real Madrid looking really good going for the Champions League.”
“I think it’s either the Champions League or the major tournament.
His remarks immediately sparked backlash with former Manchester City defender Micah Richards swiftly correcting him that AFCON is indeed a prestigious tournament.
“Just to say, AFCON is a major tournament because a lot of people are at home saying ‘they aren’t taking it seriously’. AFCON is a big tournament just so you know.”
Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Mikel said: ‘It’s so disrespectful what he said, and this is coming from someone who never won any major international competition with England.
‘His statement was absolutely wrong. I hope he will come out and make a massive apology because he owes people around the world an apology. [It was] ignorant to disrespect such a wonderful tournament.
If you think that the Premier League would be what it is today with just the English players you’re f***ing having a laugh mate.
‘The smirk on his face, the arrogant f***ing smirk on his face to dismiss… That smirk on his face is absolutely what tipped me off. You have people trying to correct you and you’re coming out and attacking absolutely everyone else and discrediting this wonderful tournament.
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‘The guy says so many things on TV, never won the Premier League, analyses teams and tells them you have to win the Premier League.
‘You never won it, you don’t know what it takes to win the f***ing Premier League, you don’t know what it takes to win with your national team. You can’t discredit such a wonderful, wonderful tournament. People in Africa die for the Africa Cup of Nations.
‘I am f***ing angry, I am f***ing angry, he spent so many years playing for Liverpool, he didn’t win the f***ing Premier League. He sits there week in, week out, telling and teaching people trying to tell people how to win the Premier League. You haven’t won it.
‘Africans watch you on the weekend and you sit there, open your mouth and discredit the whole f***ing African continent, saying your African Nations tournament is s***. That is has no value because it’s not the Euros or Copa America. He can f*** off. We know in Africa what we bring to the Premier League.
‘If you won the Euros with England I might understand that, if you won a major tournament with England I might understand that. You won f*** all with England. F*** all. And you try to discredit the tournament that I won, shed blood and tears for?’
During his playing career, Mikel won the Africa Cup of Nations back in 2013 and finished as a runner-up on two separate occasions.
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