‘Your paymaster!’: Jamie Carragher hits back at Rio Ferdinand for refusing to speak out on Qatar’s poor human rights record at the World Cup, after United icon accused him of staying silent over Steven Gerrard’s new Saudi job
- Jamie Carragher hit back at Rio Ferdinand in dispute over Saudi Arabia money
- Carragher accused the ex-Man United defender for hypocrisy over Qatar stance
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Jamie Carragher has continued his online war of words with Rio Ferdinand as the pair of pundits come to verbal blows over Saudi Arabia’s involvement in football.
The investment of the Saudi state into football clubs and players has been a significant talking point among talking heads in the game.
The latest updates include Man City‘s Bernardo Silva being reportedly offered a mammoth pay offer by Al-Hilal, and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard being confirmed as the new manager of Al-Ettifaq.
Ferdinand took a swipe at Carragher – himself a former Liverpool man who was close with Gerrard – during his FIVE programming, which was shared on Twitter.
Rio said: ‘Jamie. 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, et cetera.
Rio Ferdinand tore into Jamie Carragher for the ex-Liverpool man’s criticism of Saudi Arabia
Carragher continued the war of words on social media, accusing Ferdinand of hypocrisy
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‘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 that 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.’
However, Carragher was not best pleased with Ferdinand’s personalised attack – and accused the former Man United and England defender of hypocrisy for ducking questions over Qatar during the 2022 World Cup.
Carragher was accused of being vocal against Saudi Arabia until Steven Gerrard joined
Ferdinand was part of the BBC’s pundit team for the 2022 World Cup which was held in Qatar
In reply, Carragher tweeted: ‘Never criticised Silva, Benzema, Neves or SG, I don’t like Saudi trying to buy football like they have Golf.
‘I knew you’d be all over it @rioferdy5 like you were in Qatar! Thats why you refused to do the opening game for @BBCMOTD didn’t want to criticise your paymaster!’
There is no likely end imminent in relation to the constant stream of money coming into football from Saudi Arabia, and the country’s human rights record is set to continue to create ethical conundrums for players and staff, as well as the pundits who voice their opinions on these matters.
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