Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand released a photo in a hospital bed as he fell ill with a sickness bug this week, meaning he will miss this week’s European semi-finals.
It has been reported that the bug has affected other members of his family, and he has been forced to stay away from his punditry duties during recovery.
“Gutted to be missing the semi-finals this week”, the 46-year-old wrote on his X page.
He added: “Wishing the team all the best - I’ll be watching every minute from my iPad,"
Gutted to be missing the Semi-Finals this week on @footballontnt!!
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) May 7, 2025
Wishing the team all the best — I’ll be watching every minute from the iPad! 🤝🏽❤️ pic.twitter.com/meODe2p88Y
TNT Sports, the broadcaster Ferdinand appears on regularly, replied saying, “Get well soon, Rio”.
The former centre-back continued to watch the football, as he slammed Paris Saint-Germain’s VAR penalty decision against Arsenal on Wednesday night as a ‘horrendous decision’.
The decision was controversial, as Miles Lewis-Skelly was judged to have handled the ball in the penalty area, despite having minimal impact on the flight of the ball that David Raya grasped comfortably.
David Raya saved Vitinha's penalty expertly after the 'horrendous' decision
Reuters
The following penalty from Vitinha was brilliantly saved by Raya, but it wasn’t enough to help them overcome the Parisiens, as the north London club crashed out of the Champions League in their best performance in the tournament since 2009.
Ferdinand will also miss Thursday’s Europa League semi-finals, in which his beloved Manchester United take their 3-0 lead against Bilbao to Old Trafford - a game he would have undoubtedly been covering.
Bruno Fernandes scored twice after Casemiro opened the scoring for the Red Devils in the first leg at the Estadio de San Mamés, where the final will be held on May 21.
Ferdinand will be hoping for a less dramatic 90 minutes than the previous fixture at Old Trafford in the Europa League, in which Manchester United edged through to the semi-final in a 5-4 thriller, where they overcame a two-goal deficit in extra-time against French side Lyon.
Ferdinand was seen with Robbie Savage on the gantry in huge celebrations after Harry Maguire headed United through to the next round, in one of the most thrilling games at Old Trafford in recent memory.
Rio Ferdinand (left) will be hoping to make a full recovery by May 21
Reuters
As the Premier League legend has performed punditry duties on United since his retirement in 2015, he will be hoping to have made a full recovery for the final, with his former side poised to make it there.
Their most likely competitor is Tottenham, who travel to Norwegian side FK Bodø/Glimt on Thursday night with a 3-1 lead from the first leg of the tie.
Tottenham have beaten Manchester United on all three occasions they have faced each other this season, and the Red Devils are without a win against the north London club since 2022.
After signing from Leeds for a British-record £30million in July 2002, breaking his own record for the world’s most expensive defender, Ferdinand went on to have a stellar career at the Red Devils.
He boasts 455 appearances and 15 trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League.
