Rio Ferdinand will not be a part of the TNT Sports commentary team for tonight’s Europa League semi-final between Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao after falling ill.
Ferdinand has a sickness bug and posted a picture of himself from a hospital bed on X last night, prior to Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
He wrote: “Gutted to be missing the Semi-Finals this week on TNT!!
“Wishing the team all the best — I’ll be watching every minute from the iPad!”
Gutted to be missing the Semi-Finals this week on @footballontnt!!
Wishing the team all the best — I’ll be watching every minute from the iPad! 🤝🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/meODe2p88Y— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) May 7, 2025
True to his word, Ferdinand was quick to criticise the awarding of a second-half penalty to PSG after Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have handballed inside the area, describing the decision as “horrendous”.
Mixed reaction to Rio news
Fans have been quick to jump on Ferdinand’s social media post with some wishing him a swift recovery while others have taken the opportunity to criticise his punditry.
The former United and England defender has come under fire for his style of commentary, with many suggesting he sounds like a supporter rather than a broadcaster.
He and Robbie Savage were widely criticised for their reaction to Harry Maguire’s late goal against Lyon last month with veteran broadcaster Clive Tyldesley comparing the channel to Manchester United’s in-house station MUTV.
HARRY MAGUIRE DOES IT AGAIN! 🚨
Man United have completed the comeback ✅
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/mcNnClCikl
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 17, 2025
Tyldesley wrote: “Over on TNT Sport, lead commentator Darren Fletcher was playing gooseberry to two former United players that were just loving the comeback. We know this because Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Savage could not only be heard but also seen on “CommCam”.
“So, just in case we were wondering if Rio’s voice had temporarily lost the frequency of the commentator’s traditional neutrality, we could watch his fist punching the air over and over in delight. I got the impression that he maybe knew the hidden camera was there. Could be wrong.
‘Fletch had been savvy enough to take a deep breath in the wake of United’s equaliser – my wonderful mentor Reg Gutteridge used to call it “thinking time” – before delivering the catchy line “Kobbie Mainoo is the coolest kid in Old Trafford and Manchester United are level”. Either side of him, Rio and Robbie were unashamedly losing their collective cool to welcome us to MUTV.”
Ballon d’Or…
Ferdinand was also mocked for his reaction to Vinicius Jr’s goal for Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund where he simply repeated “Ballon d’Or.”
Rio’s reaction to Vinicius Jr’s UCL Final goal 😂#UCLfinal | @rioferdy5 pic.twitter.com/v70i9zuYYk
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 2, 2024
