By admin 
Rio Ferdinand is not going to be part of the TNT Sports activities commentary crew for tonight’s Europa League semi-final between Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao after falling ailing.
Ferdinand has a illness bug and posted an image of himself from a hospital mattress on X final night time, previous to Arsenal’s Champions League conflict with Paris Saint-Germain.
He wrote: “Gutted to be lacking the Semi-Finals this week on TNT!!
“Wishing the crew all the perfect — I’ll be watching each minute from the iPad!”
Gutted to be lacking the Semi-Finals this week on @footballontnt!!
Wishing the crew all the perfect — I’ll be watching each minute from the iPad! 🤝🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/meODe2p88Y— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) May 7, 2025
True to his phrase, Ferdinand was fast to criticise the awarding of a second-half penalty to PSG after Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have handballed inside the world, describing the choice as “horrendous”.
Combined response to Rio information
Followers have been fast to leap on Ferdinand’s social media submit with some wishing him a swift restoration whereas others have taken the chance to criticise his punditry.
The previous United and England defender has come underneath hearth for his model of commentary, with many suggesting he appears like a supporter moderately than a broadcaster.
He and Robbie Savage have been broadly criticised for his or her response to Harry Maguire’s late purpose in opposition to Lyon final month with veteran broadcaster Clive Tyldesley evaluating the channel to Manchester United’s in-house station MUTV.
HARRY MAGUIRE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚨
Man United have accomplished the comeback ✅
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/mcNnClCikl
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) April 17, 2025
Tyldesley wrote: “Over on TNT Sport, lead commentator Darren Fletcher was enjoying gooseberry to 2 former United gamers that have been simply loving the comeback. We all know this as a result of Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Savage couldn’t solely be heard but in addition seen on “CommCam”.
“So, simply in case we have been questioning if Rio’s voice had briefly misplaced the frequency of the commentator’s conventional neutrality, we may watch his fist punching the air time and again in delight. I obtained the impression that he possibly knew the hidden digital camera was there. Might be fallacious.
‘Fletch had been savvy sufficient to take a deep breath within the wake of United’s equaliser – my fantastic mentor Reg Gutteridge used to name it “considering time” – earlier than delivering the catchy line “Kobbie Mainoo is the best child in Previous Trafford and Manchester United are degree”. Both aspect of him, Rio and Robbie have been unashamedly shedding their collective cool to welcome us to MUTV.”
Ballon d’Or…
Ferdinand was additionally mocked for his response to Vinicius Jr’s purpose for Actual Madrid in final season’s Champions League last win over Borussia Dortmund the place he merely repeated “Ballon d’Or.”
Rio’s response to Vinicius Jr’s UCL Closing purpose 😂#UCLfinal | @rioferdy5 pic.twitter.com/v70i9zuYYk
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) June 2, 2024