James is a Senior Editor for GIVEMESPORT with over eight years of experience in the industry.

After graduating from the University of Southampton in 2016 with a degree in history, he joined the company as an Academy member in July 2017 and, after a short time working as a freelancer, was given a full-time role in February 2018. 

He primarily covers the biggest stories in the football world but is also comfortable reporting on a variety of other sports including darts, golf, Formula 1, tennis, boxing and athletics.

He has covered some massive events during his time at GIVEMESPORT, including numerous Champions League and World Cup finals, as well as the Olympics in 2020 and 2024.
 

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has come under fire on social media after his reply to a popular fan of the club on social media.

United's poor start to the season continued on Wednesday evening when they were beaten by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. The Spanish giants won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Pablo Barrios and Ademola Lookman.

After the match, Lisandro Martinez called out Man Utd's owners in an extraordinary interview. He later apologised for his comments after they went viral.

Michael Carrick is now under serious pressure. With just one win from United's opening six Premier League matches, he'll be desperate for his side to defeat fierce rivals Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon.

Speaking ahead of the match, Carrick said that the club is a lot bigger than him or any player. He said, per the Guardian:

“I don’t need results, we all need results. It’s not about me. Manchester United is a lot bigger than any individual, bigger than me, bigger than any player, anyone else who works at this club. It’s not about me, so please…

“I don’t go into every day at work, in this situation, this game, thinking about me. It’s about what we stand for, what we live for, the history, the things that we need to live up to, and that’s what drives us. So whatever’s best for the club and for the team on Sunday is the most important thing.”

Carrick's comments resonated with Ferdinand, who decided to repost them on his Instagram page.

Popular Man Utd fan Saeed TV, who has 238k subscribers on YouTube, responded to Ferdinand's post, telling him to 'stop yapping and call out the [United's] owners.'

Ferdinand wasn't impressed and replied: "Stop yapping and pick up ya [your] tits, ya [you're] out a [of] breath typing!!"

Ferdinand is being condemned on social media after his comment went viral.

One fan said: "Body shaming is completely out of order, and I believe he needs to take full accountability and responsibility for his comments and issue a sincere apology to Saeed."

A second wrote: "You’re a disgrace @rioferdy5. That’s no way to behave," while a third said: "What a childish and rude/offensive response from an ex professional player and now pundit/youtuber. So immature"

A fourth commented: "Disgusting from Rio... Anyone laughing at this or defending it, you are a horrible excuse of a person," while a fifth stated: "Rio Ferdinand is a disgrace & has lost A LOT of respect after this."

Man Utd Fan Responds to Ferdinand

Saeed TV has now responded in a 15-minute-long video on YouTube. He said:

"This is a grown man. He is 47 years old, but yet he's speaking like he's in his teens. You are a grown man, and this is the response you put on social media. You have got kids watching you. You have you are a role model to so many around the world. Yet this is how you conduct yourself on social media. It's absolutely embarrassing."

He ended the video by saying: "I'm glad tonight people are opening up their eyes to the real Rio Ferdinand. And I hope he's watching this video. But the reality is here for me, I want what's best for this football club. But do you? Do you realise what's best for this football club? Because clearly you don't.

"When it's time to get dirty, when it's time to really speak your mind, you ain't there. You were never there. You ain't ever been that guy. But you sit there on your high horse trying to insult other people for calling you out.

"It's dark, you know. It's really, really dark for you tonight. On this channel, we call it out. We call out the BS. It's as simple as that. I ask you to call out the owners and this is what you come with? Astonishing. Absolutely astonishing."