Qudus SalihuJamie Carragher has issued a lengthy clarification following a viral on-air clash with Everton icon Duncan Ferguson that left social media reeling. The “bust-out,” which occurred during a heated Monday Night Football segment, saw Ferguson take offense to Carragher’s assessment of Everton’s historical reliance on “chaos and aggression” rather than technical evolution.
In a detailed statement shared via his social media channels and later discussed on the Stick to Football podcast, Carragher addressed the tension that nearly boiled over live on Sky Sports. “I have nothing but the utmost respect for Duncan,” Carragher wrote. “We’ve had our battles on the pitch for years, and what you saw on Monday was that same competitive edge spilling into the studio. My comments weren’t meant to diminish what the club stands for, but rather to highlight the difficult transition Everton faces in the modern game.”
The former Liverpool defender admitted that his choice of words may have been “clumsy” given the sensitive nature of the Merseyside rivalry and the current pressure surrounding Goodison Park. He noted that while he and Ferguson have a strong personal relationship off-camera—even joking earlier in the broadcast about who was the “tougher” man—the deep-rooted passion for their respective clubs can make objective analysis difficult.
Carragher concluded the statement by doubling down on his role as a pundit, insisting that his job is to provide honest, sometimes uncomfortable critiques. “Duncan is a legend who will always defend his club to the hilt, and I wouldn’t expect anything less. We spoke privately after the show and, while we still see the game differently, the air is clear. Football is about these passions; without them, the game is nothing.”
The statement appears to have cooled the immediate fire, though many Evertonians remain vocal in their support of “Big Dunc” for standing his ground. Carragher, ever the professional, seems ready to move on, even if the “Hardest Man in Football” gave him a moment of genuine pause under the studio lights.
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Mustapha Sheidu