Jamie Carragher has been told to “f*** off” by furious Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel for dismissing the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Sky Sports pundit has come under fire after saying Africa’s continental showpiece does not count as a major tournament. Carragher made the claim as he discussed what Mohamed Salah needs to do to win the Ballon d’Or on Sky Sports.
The former Liverpool defender said: "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, I think it's either the Champions League or the major tournament. Normally, the player who excels in that."
Carragher was immediately challenged by fellow pundits Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge. Meanwhile, a number of current and former players have condemned his dismissal of AFCON’s place in the modern game.
Obi Mikel, who won AFCON with Nigeria and the Champions League with Chelsea, could not conceal his anger as he unleashed an expletive-laden response to Carragher’s comments. Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, Mikel pointed out Carragher’s failure to win a major tournament with England and the Premier League with Liverpool.
“It's so disrespectful what he said, and this is coming from someone who never won any major international competition with England,” he blasted.
He highlighted the impact players from Africa have had on the Premier League, saying: “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.
“His statement was so 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.”
Mikel praised Richards and Sturridge for trying to correct Carragher. He added: “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, wonderful tournament. I was lucky enough to win the Africa Cup of Nations. I know the blood and tears we shed.”
While Carragher won the Champions League, the Premier League eluded him. Mikel went on: “The guy says so many things on TV, [he] 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. Children grow up watching their idols. It inspires them.
“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. 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. You won f*** all with England. F*** all. And you try to discredit the tournament that I won, shed blood and tears for?”