Jamie Carragher calls Rio Ferdinand ‘a clown’ on Champions League coverage

Jamie Carragher has reignited his feud with Rio Ferdinand, saying he is ‘happy to call him a clown’ while covering the Champions League semi-final with CBS.

The Liverpool hero and the Manchester United legend have clashed before on social media and Carragher stoked the fires once again by criticizing Ferdinand’s opinion on a penalty call during Inter Milan’s 2-0 win over rivals AC.

Lautaro Martínez went down inside the AC Milan box following a tussle with Simon Kjaer. Referee Jesus Gil Manzano immediately pointed to the spot and booked the defender but overturned his call after VAR asked him to consult his monitor.

Ferdinand, who was broadcasting for BT Sport live from the San Siro on Wednesday, said it was a ‘stonewall’ penalty but Carragher felt differently – and didn’t spare the former United man from criticism when he explained why.

CBS showed Carragher being outraged at the decision during the first half when they were off air, where he said: ‘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.’

Jamie Carragher has called Rio Ferdinand a clown on the CBS Champions League show 

Ferdinand was reporting live from the San Siro for the Champions League semi on Wednesday

It came as Carragher was discussing the overturned penalty involving Lautaro Martinez  

Then, back live in the studio, Carragher was shown a Tweet that said that his old Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard – who was working alongside Ferdinand on BT Sport – still thought it was still a penalty.

Carragher responded: ‘He was an attacking player, wasn’t he? 

‘He was liable a little bit himself under a little bit of contact – always contact, never a dive. I understand where he is coming from. 

‘It’s just when players in my position who are defenders, English defenders who are commentating on the game…’ before Micah Richards interjected, only for Henry to stop him and ask Carragher what he was about to say.

Carragher continued: ‘I can understand attackers thinking it was a penalty (turning to Thierry Henry) if you did, and Stevie was an attacker. Maybe he felt there was a little bit of contact.

‘But as a defender we have to stick together don’t we and I just felt people were getting a little bit carried away.’

Micah Richards then said: ‘Name names’ to which Carragher answered: ‘Rio Ferdinand, I’m happy to call him a clown!’ 

Henry looked stunned by Carragher’s comments, holding his papers up to his face while Richards said he didn’t want to get involved in any tension between the two. 

Henry held his papers over his face as Carragher took aim at Ferdinand on the show

Carragher and Ferdinand  – pictured in March – have clashed before over big talking points

United legend Ferdinand and Liverpool hero Carragher seen together for England in 2006

Carragher and Ferdinand previously clashed on Twitter last October regarding Cristiano Ronaldo’s involvement at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag.

Ferdinand joked that Carragher was upset that Ronaldo had refused to shake his hand on Sky Sports News when he was broadcasting from Old Trafford. 

‘No I’m delighted it went viral!’ said Carragher. ‘Rio I know how it works, he’s your mate & you/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 then replied: ‘What WhatsApp group?! Leave off lad…I want this same energy with Roy Keane when ya [sic] next in the studio ffs. Stop getting bullied.’