Barton backs Carragher, says AFCON not a major tournament
Former England footballer Joey Barton has weighed in on the ongoing debate about the status of the Africa Cup of Nations, dismissing it as a major international tournament.
His remarks follow the controversy sparked by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who suggested that AFCON does not hold the same prestige as other global competitions like the UEFA European Championship (Euros) or Copa América.
In a video statement released on Tuesday, Barton backed Carragher’s stance, arguing that AFCON lacks worldwide significance beyond the African continent.
“The Africa Cup of Nations isn’t a major championship. Copa América, the European Championship, and the World Cup are your major international tournaments. Unfortunately, AFCON isn’t one of them,” Barton said.
He further criticised the tournament’s quality, citing allegations of bribery, poor pitch conditions, and incidents of violence.
He referenced past controversies, including the disallowed goal in Nigeria’s match against Ghana in 2010 and refereeing issues in the 2021 edition of the tournament.
“Don’t get me started on the quality of pitches and some of the attendances, but also the accusations of bribery over the years,” he added.
Barton also highlighted security concerns that have plagued AFCON in previous editions, recalling the 2010 attack on the Togo national team bus, which resulted in multiple fatalities.
He contrasted these incidents with other international tournaments, claiming such occurrences are rare in the Euros or the World Cup.
“Apart from the African countries, it doesn’t capture the world’s imagination like some of the other major tournaments do.
“You’ve also had Ebola outbreaks, like when Morocco pulled out in 2015. There was also fan violence that year, causing a game to be abandoned and restarted later.
“And people forget that in 2010, the Togo team bus was attacked, and I think Emmanuel Adebayor was on it. Sadly, some people lost their lives. These are things you just don’t see at major tournaments.
“The biggest one for me was in 2021-22 when a referee, who must have bought his watch from a street vendor, stopped a game in the 85th minute, restarted it, then stopped it again at the 89th minute — well short of the allotted time — and then tried to get the players back on the pitch.
It was Tunisia on that occasion. You just don’t see things like that at major championships.
“And if you don’t believe me, Sir Alex Ferguson, reportedly, refused to sign big African stars because of this tournament, as it falls in December and January, disrupting trophy-winning seasons,” Barton remarked.
His comments have further fuelled the controversy ignited by Carragher, who had questioned whether Mohamed Salah’s participation in AFCON could impact his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or.
“I think the problem is that he’s with Egypt, and he’s probably not playing in a major tournament or has a great chance of winning,” Carragher had said during a Sky Sports broadcast.
Carragher’s remarks drew immediate criticism, with Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards strongly refuting his claims.
“AFCON is a major tournament. A lot of people at home are saying, ‘they aren’t taking it seriously.’ AFCON is a big tournament, just so you know,” Richards countered.
Former England striker Daniel Sturridge also dismissed Carragher’s stance, arguing that AFCON should be regarded at the same level as other continental competitions.
“If you win the Euros or Copa América, it’s deemed to be big, so AFCON is at the same level,” Sturridge stated.
Despite the backlash, Barton doubled down on his claims, insisting that AFCON lacks global appeal outside Africa and is not widely broadcast.
“The TV doesn’t cover it. If it does, it’s buried on ITV 86,” he said.
He also referenced former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, claiming Ferguson reportedly hesitated to sign African players due to AFCON’s scheduling in the middle of the European season.
