RIO FERDINAND was forced to pull out of TNT Sports’ Champions League coverage on Tuesday after falling ill, according to reports.
The Manchester United legend was part of the coverage alongside Laura Woods, Jermaine Jenas and Shay Given for Newcastle’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
However, having provided insight before the match and at half-time, he was absent after the game with TNT confirming he had left due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
The Daily Mail now claim that Ferdinand was taken ill during the match and subsequently returned to his hotel to rest.
He is now understood to be feeling better and will return to screens tonight to cover Man Utd’s match against Galatasaray from Rams Park in Istanbul.
Rangers legend Ally McCoist stepped in for Ferdinand at full-time after commentating on Newcastle’s visit to PSG.
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The match ended 1-1 following a controversial 98th-minute penalty.
Eddie Howe’s side were seconds away from clinching a monumental away win when Ousmane Dembele’s flick bounced off Tino Livramento’s chest and onto his elbow.
Polish referee Szymon Marciniak was unmoved and immediately waived play-on.
But play was halted by VAR and Marciniak was called over to his screen to watch slow-motion replays before pointing to the spot.
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Reacting to the incident, McCoist said: “That is absolutely never a penalty.
“If we’re giving penalty kicks for that in the biggest club competition on the planet, it’s a disgrace.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
