Carragher slams ‘incredibly arrogant’ Boehly as pundit tells Chelsea chief ‘this is Europe’

Todd Boehly has been reminded “this is Europe” as Jamie Carragher slams the “incredibly arrogant” Chelsea owner over his All-star game idea.

In an interview on Tuesday, Boehly suggested the Premier League could play a North vs South game to raise funds for the football pyramid.

READ MORE: North v South All-Star Game: Man City, Arsenal trios make the teams based on match ratings

The idea has been met with widespread condemnation and opposition with the Professional Footballers’ Association insisting there is simply no time to put on such an exhibition.

Speaking at the Salt conference, Boehly said: “Ultimately, I hope the Premier League takes a little bit of a lesson out of the American sports teams and really start to think about why don’t we do a tournament with the bottom four teams.

“People are talking about why don’t we have more money for the pyramid? MLB did their All-star game this year. They made $200m from a Monday and a Tuesday, you could do a North vs South all-star game from the Premier League to fund the pyramid very easily.”

Thierry Henry started the objections in the CBS Sports studio, insisting “this is Europe” having not taken kindly to the American owners condescending tone and his use of the word “lesson”.

Carragher put his head in his hands as the quote was read out, before saying: “When I look at that statement, I think that it is incredibly arrogant. He is speaking about a league that he does not know. We should not discount ideas – the Premier League is an international league in terms of owners, managers, players, and that is what makes it the best.”

“I don’t like these ideas but speaking like that – from someone who has not yet shown that he can run a Premier League club well – when you have been there for just six weeks, is incredibly arrogant. It would be the same if an English owner went over to buy an NFL team and spoke in that manner.

“There is nothing wrong with ideas, even if me and Thierry disagree with him. But to speak like that when you have been in the country for such a short time.”

Micah Richards highlighted the flaws in Boehly’s suggestion: “When would the All-Star game be? There are too many games as it is. How do you decide who plays? What if someone gets a bad injury?”