Rio Ferdinand Responds to Viewer Unhappy With Commentary During Athletic Club 0-3 Man Utd

Rio Ferdinand has addressed a viewer’s frustration over his commentary during Manchester United’s 3-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night. The Red Devils all but secured their place in the Europa League final with a dominant performance at San Mames Stadium.

The game’s decisive moment came in the 35th minute. Just five minutes after Casemiro opened the scoring, Dani Vivian made contact with Rasmus Hojlund in the box. The referee initially let play continue, but after a VAR review, the defender was shown a red card and United were awarded a penalty. Bruno Fernandes converted, before then netting his second goal of the match before the break.

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While VAR’s role in the incident has sparked widespread scrutiny, it’s not the only controversy to emerge from the match. Ferdinand, alongside Darren Fletcher in the commentary booth for TNT Sports, drew criticism from viewers who felt their commentary displayed a clear bias, and the retired defender has now had his say on the matter.

Ferdinand Responds To Unhappy Viewer After Man Utd Win

The retired defender has said his peace

Ferdinand has often found himself a lightning rod for criticism since transitioning into punditry. His unapologetic support for Man United frequently draws the ire of rival supporters. During Thursday night’s match, one viewer on X voiced their frustration, writing: “It’s a European semifinal and the TV commentary is two Manchester United fans asking for a penalty and a red card. It’s just pathetic.”

The post specifically targeted the TNT Sports commentary team’s unanimous agreement that VAR made the right call in sending off Vivian and awarding the Red Devils a penalty, which Fernandes converted. With numerous former United icons now holding prominent media roles, accusations of bias are almost inevitable. But Ferdinand didn’t help his case either if you go off how he celebrated the second goal of the night. Watch his celebration below:

In his characteristically laid-back manner, however, the 46-year-old crafted the perfect reply with just a few well-chosen words. He said (see the full thread below):

Ferdinand is unlikely to be fazed by a handful of critical remarks – particularly with his beloved former club seemingly on the brink of reaching yet another major European final. While Ruben Amorim’s side continues to struggle domestically in what could still prove to be their worst-ever Premier League campaign, their European journey has been a much brighter tale.

If Man United advance to the final in Bilbao on May 21, they’ll face the winner of Tottenham vs. Bodo/Glimt. With Spurs securing a 3-1 victory in the first leg, an all-English final now appears to be on the cards.

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