Jamie Carragher has been suspended from his TV punditry work for the rest of the season by Sky after a video emerged of him spitting at a taunting football fan while driving.
The incident occurred after Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Carragher shown to have spat in the direction of another motorist.
Carragher, who played more than 700 times for the Reds, has carved out a successful new broadcasting career working alongside Gary Neville on Sky Sports, but that now hangs in the balance.
Sky held talks with the ex-England defender on Monday following a video coming to light via the Mirror newspaper of him spitting towards a car while being filmed. The other driver’s teenage daughter was said to have been hit in the face by his spittle.
Bootle-born Carragher told Sky News that he was “appalled” by his own actions, which he described as “totally out of character”.
YouTube: Guardian
He said: “You can’t condone that behaviour in any way, shape or form – no matter who you are. It was a moment of madness. It’s the only time I have ever reacted like that.
“I called and apologised [to the family] last night. My biggest regret is causing a 14-year-old girl to be involved in something like this. That devastates me more than anything else does.
“I’ve got a daughter the same age and it’s difficult to put into words how I’d react in that situation. Obviously the father feels the same way about his daughter as I do mine.”
As the media storm grew, his current employers released a statement, saying: “Sky takes this matter extremely seriously and strongly condemns Jamie’s actions. We have made that clear to him in person today and suspended him from his duties. It falls well below the standards we expect of our people.”
When asked what the incident meant for his career, Carragher said: “It remains to be seen. It’s Sky’s decision, not mine, but there’s no doubt what I have done after the game was disgusting.”
YouTube: Sky News
Twitter: Reaction to Jamie Carragher spitting incident
I’ve known Jamie Carragher for 30 years and I can tell you now that incident is completely out of character for him,fair play for phoning the guy and his daughter up and apologising,he’s only human at the end of day and the frustration has got the better of him.
— David Thompson (@77thomo) March 12, 2018
On the Carragher “spitgate” I wonder does a reaction like that constitute a moment of madness or unearth a serious character flaw? retaliation with swearing could have been understood, but to spit at anyone surely is the most horrid thing to do.
— PatrickMcGonagle (@Paddypro) March 12, 2018
Wouldnt it be interesting if we interviewed politicians as vigorously as people are with Jamie Carragher
— Tino (@Tino2203) March 12, 2018
I’ve just watched Carra23 say sorry. No excuses he’s made a big mistake . He’s massively passionate about football and he’s overstepped the mark and shouldn’t have reacted . I’ve been on TV for 3 years with him and imo this isolated incident shouldn’t stop us working together
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) March 12, 2018
I like Jamie Carragher. But what he’s done is despicable. A moment of madness yes, but spitting is the lowest of the low. https://t.co/ZtX4XoR7db
— Darryl Pritchard (@thedazzler1984) March 12, 2018