Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has gone against the usual line by calling for European domestic leagues to be paused until the Africa Cup of Nations is finished.
Ferdinand made his point in a video clip, arguing that the tournament deserves full respect and that clubs and leagues should not treat it as an inconvenience during the season.
He said European football should stop to allow African players to take part without pressure and to give the competition the attention it merits, insisting that AFCON is a major event and should be viewed as such.
His comments come at a time when the Africa Cup of Nations is again raising debate in Europe, with squads losing key names mid-season and coaches forced to adjust in important weeks of the campaign.
Ferdinand’s message was clear: instead of complaining about the timing, European leagues should simply put their schedules on hold until the tournament ends.
