Rio Ferdinand hits back at “tasteless” Jamie Carragher following recent commentary incident

Rio Ferdinand has hit back at “tasteless” comments from Jamie Carragher following a hot debate surrounding goal celebrations in football.

In the last few months, a lot of noise has been made surrounding taunting celebrations in football, with some feeling there are points when they cross the line.

Manchester United have been synonymous with iconic celebrations over the years, with recent players such as Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Højlund trying to cement their own trademarks on the game of late.

However, nothing has quite held a candle to the legends of yesteryear from the Premier League and beyond, with Thierry Henry’s knee slide and Cristiano Ronaldo’s “siu” celebrations some of the most recognisable moves across all sport, while Wayne Rooney’s knockout punch celebration vs Tottenham in 2015 also an instant classic.

However, there has been a debate of late surrounding if celebrations have gone too far, with some players using the moments to mock or make fun of other clubs or players, with former Brighton striker Neal Maupay having been at the forefront of this in the past.

Carragher’s Lewis-Skelly comments went viral

Arsenal’s recent 5-1 demolition of Manchester City was a stunning fixture marked by a fantastic finish from Hale End Academy graduate Miles Lewis-Skelly, who scored and proceeded to copy Erling Haaland’s meditation celebration.

This then sparked anger online and among the football world, with former Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher a particular voice against the 18-year-old star’s actions – although many took offence to Carragher’s words.

“I didn’t like the Lewis Skelly thing. I don’t care that Haaland said to him in the first game, who the f*** are you, basically, because you’re a young player.

“I don’t think Lewis Skelly is in a position to be taking the p*** out of Erling Haaland, who was a guy who scored 250 goals, won every trophy under the sun. I don’t, to be honest.”

Continuing, he said: “Stop showboating in front of the crowd, or taking the mick out of the opposition. This game’s not won. You just don’t want it to boil over. And I just thought that was a little step too far. You need a little clip around the ear, and I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Ferdinand hits back at Carragher

However, speaking on his recent podcast, former United defender Rio Ferdinand has hit back at the critics of Lewis-Skelly, explaining that celebrations that mock others are part of football, and used Gary Neville as an example.

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Ferdinand explained that he feels what’s been said is “tasteless,” and that young footballers should be allowed to live out their dreams.

“I don’t want to keep going on about this, but I have to, to go back to that point about, oh, it’s out of order the way that so and so celebrated,” Ferdinand started. “Let anyone express themselves!

“When you score a goal and there’s a moment in the game, because that’s what we pay to see. You can’t pick and choose when you want someone to be a bit volatile or a bit of a personality. You can’t pick and choose.”

When co-host Joel Beya joked that Ferdinand should tell that to his former teammates Neville, Ferdinand replied in jest: “Mate. Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, the lot of you, whoever else.

“Gary Neville, when he was doing that [pulling on] with his badge, when I scored at Old Trafford against Liverpool in the last minute, Gary Neville was running towards [the Liverpool fans]… he didn’t even come to me!

“He ran to Liverpool fans, he was doing that [the celebration] to Liverpool fans! The biggest iconic picture in his life, and he’s doing that to Liverpool fans. And I scored, he didn’t come celebrate with me. And he’s telling people to calm down! It’s tasteless, it’s a bit tasteless. Love you Gaz.”

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