Jamie Carragher wanted to join Borussia Dortmund fans in the away end at their Champions League clash with Manchester City – but was stopped from doing so amid concerns the move could prove incendiary.
The ex-Liverpool defender-turned-pundit was keen to cheer on the German side at the Etihad Stadium but both UEFA and City took a dim view and rejected a request from CBS Sports, Daily Mail Sport understands.
In 2024, Carragher – again working for the US broadcaster – famously spent a boozy night in Dortmund’s yellow wall at the Bundesliga outfit’s semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
And last night in Manchester the 47-year-old rekindled that relationship, marching with the visiting contingent from the city centre to the stadium.
However, his interaction ended at the ground when a request to watch the game in the away end was swiftly turned down.
While both UEFA and City declined to comment, it is understood each was quick to issue a rebuttal. UEFA’s view was that the pundit’s media credentials did not stretch to him swapping the press area for the stands, while City believed the presence of a former Liverpool player in the away end and supporting the opposition would not have been the wisest move and could well have caused a problem.
Jamie Carragher was stopped from joining Borussia Dortmund fans in the away end during their Champions League clash against Manchester City
The former Liverpool defender accompanied Dortmund fans outside the Etihad ahead of the fixture
The prospect of Carragher interviewing home players in the tunnel after supporting their opponents for 90 minutes was also deemed unpalatable
The prospect of Carragher interviewing home players in the tunnel after supporting their opponents for 90 minutes was also deemed unpalatable.
While on the march, Carragher was handed a Dortmund scarf and joined in with some of the fans’ songs. He was handed beers and at one point held a yellow flare in the air.
‘It’s been fantastic,’ he later explained to CBS colleagues Kate Abdo, Micah Richards and Thierry Henry. ‘We had a great walk in from Manchester city centre to the ground.
‘They’re enjoying themselves, they’re looking forward to the game and a little bit worried about Erling Haaland.
‘But they’ve got their own man up front in (Serhou) Guirassy who we think might be able to cause a problem or two.
‘They’re in full flight and hopefully by the end of the game they’re going to really enjoy themselves and I might join them.’
There were to be no post-match celebrations after City cruised to a 4-1 victory.
After he was sent into the stands by CBS Sports in Germany Carragher later revealed he suffered from a hangover after having eight pints.
In 2024, Carragher spent a boozy night in Dortmund’s yellow wall at the Bundesliga outfit’s semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain
He also conducted eventful post-match interviews that saw him treat Jadon Sancho like a close friend, but PSG manager Luis Enrique refused to speak with him.
As Carragher lined up alongside Peter Schmeichel to conduct the post-match chats, a concerned Abdo asked him: ‘Are you sober enough to do this Jamie?’
He replied: ‘You know that’s actually a good point. I haven’t had too much to eat. I had a cheeseburger around half two.
‘That might explain why I might be slurring my words because I’ve had about eight pints in the Yellow Wall.’
Some may well question the wisdom behind the attempt, given the animosity that has developed between Liverpool and City in recent years.
Indeed, as Daily Mail Sport has previously reported Sky Sports now carry out risk assessments and provide bodyguards for pundits after a number of high-profile incidents.
