Rio Ferdinand and John Terry engaged in a war of words after Ferdinand ranked the Chelsea legend as the fifth greatest centre-back in Premier League history.

Back in 2022, Ferdinand and Virgil van Dijk both ranked the five greatest centre-backs in Premier League history on TNT Sports.

Ferdinand and Terry played alongside for England for many years as they formed a formidable partnership at the back. However, the two had a very public falling out after Terry’s racism row with Ferdinand’s brother, Anton.

Terry received a four-game ban and a hefty £220,000 fine from the Football Association, but he was cleared in court after being charged over the incident.

Despite the two not seeing eye to eye, Ferdinand included Terry in his top five. He ranked the Chelsea icon as the fifth greatest centre-back in Premier League history, behind himself, Nemanja Vidic, Van Dijk and Jaap Stam. He said of his countryman:

John Terry Responds to Rio Ferdinand’s Top Five Greatest Premier League Centre-Backs

Terry saw Ferdinand’s top five and he couldn’t resist making his feelings clear. Taking to Instagram, the Chelsea legend posted a compilation of graphics showing statistics he recorded in his career – including the number of times he made the World XI, captains with the most Premier League titles and his win percentage being higher than any other defender.

Alongside the graphic, he wrote the caption: ‘Opinions are great but stats don’t lie.’

That didn’t go down well with Ferdinand, who responded: “The moment one has to start pushing their own records and stats, it’s really time to start addressing the fragile ego. You’re lucky I even put you in the top 5 after the racism case with my brother, so be thankful you made it.”

Terry refused to back down as he replied: “A fragile ego is putting yourself at number 1. Thanks for putting me in your top 5.”

John Terry Picks His Greatest Premier League Centre-Back Ever

Despite their issues, Terry has recognised Ferdinand as the greatest centre-back in Premier League history. The debate started again when Jermaine Pennant claimed Van Dijk is a much better defender than Terry ever was, a claim that Jamie O’Hara couldn’t fathom.

When asked to give his thoughts on the Double Tops Podcast, Terry said: “It’s not for me to say. I know this clip’s gone viral because Jermaine Pennant’s roped me in. The debate started about me, Rio [Ferdinand], [Nemanja] Vidic, and then all of a sudden it just got isolated to me.

“I think myself, Rio, Vidic… we’re different generations to Virgil [Van Dijk]. I think van Dijk is the greatest in this generation. He’s the best by a million miles in the Premier League and has been for the last four of five years. If it’s me to say, I’d say Rio.

“I don’t think it’s for me to sit on here and go I’m the best. What I will do… I will come out when someone says the high scoring defender and clean sheets. No, no, that’s me. So I’m allowed to defend myself in terms of that.

“But if I had to pick someone, Rio, over time, lonbegvity, what he won. Playing at one of the biggest clubs in the world at Man Utd, that’s the greatest for me.”

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, continues to be a target for darts fans following a series of similar incidents in recent events, with ITV once again forced to take action. The atmosphere towards the Labour leader has intensified over recent events in the Middle East, and fans at Butlin’s over the weekend were quick to let him know their true feelings.

Many members of the public have voiced their concerns that the resident of no.10 Downing Street is harming the UK’s special relationship with the US, as disagreements persist over the reluctance the UK government is at assisting the States as they fight Iranian forces in the Middle East.

You’d think that Starmer would be safe from abuse at the darts, but that simply hasn’t been the case in recent months, and it was no different this past weekend at the UK Open.

Keir Starmer Chants Heard Throughout UK Open

The pinnacle of the tournament was held at Butlin’s Minehead yesterday, as Luke Littler won the competition for a second consecutive year, the first person to do so since Michael van Gerwen back in 2016.

These latest incidents of chanting have transitioned from the arenas to the digital sphere, amassing hundreds of thousands of views on social media. Following the X-rated chanting, the broadcasters, ITV, issued an apology to its viewers, who would have heard the expletive chants such as, “Keir Starmer is a w****r.”

As the conflict with Iranian forces continues to dominate the news cycle, Starmer is under a lot of pressure over the level of logistical and combat support to our US allies. This political friction has now clearly spilled into the crowds and arenas in sport.

Luke Littler Wins UK Open

The teenage sensation’s achievement is not to be understated, as he pocketed a prize fund of £120,000 last night. Luke ‘The Nuke’ was crowned champion yesterday evening after beating James Wade, who also fell short to the young star last year, and was denied a fourth UK Open title that would have put him within one of record-holding Phil Taylor’s five.

The runner-up did put up more of a fight this year, however, having improved his showing from an 11-2 defeat last year to winning five more legs this time round in an 11-7 scoreline.

The champion was interviewed by ITV following his victory, and he was clearly delighted to go back-to-back in yet another tournament.

“This is what James does, he is always behind you. I told him after the game that if he had hit those double tops, it would have been a completely different game. James and I always have a good battle. I said, ‘back-to-back, you can get me next year.'”

A mass brawl broke out in the ‌Campeonato Mineiro final between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro on Sunday, leading to a record 23 red cards.

Cruzeiro faced their fierce rivals in Belo Horizonte looking to become Campeonato Mineiro champions for the first time in seven years. They managed to do just that as they won 1-0, with Kaio Jorge’s goal 14 minutes after half-time proving to be the difference between the two sides.

There were unsavoury scenes in the final moments of the clash, though, as players from both sides came to blows in wild and chaotic scenes.

Mass Brawl Breaks Out in Campeonato Mineiro Final

It all kicked off between the two sides in the final moments when Christian collided with Everson. Everson saved a shot from Matheus Pereira and Christian made contact with the Atletico goalkeeper as they battled for the loose ball.

Everson reacted very badly as he kneed his opponent while he was on the ground and shouted at him. His actions sparked a mass brawl with players from both teams involved in shoving, punches, and kicks.

Arguably the most high profile player on the pitch was Hulk. The Brazilian, who accrued 49 caps for his country, was at the centre of the conflict as he punched opponent Lucas Romero, sending him to the ground. The 39-year-old, considered one of the strongest players in football history, was also kicked by Lucas Villalba during the melee.

After a lengthy stoppage, the referee finally blew the whistle as Cruzeiro were crowned state champions for the 39th time. No player was shown a red card on the pitch, but a match report from the referee has now confirmed 23 red cards, with 12 players from Cruzeiro sent off and 11 from Atletico Mineiro.

The tally is the most in Brazilian football history, eclipsing the record of 22 red cards in Portuguesa and Botafogo’s clash back in 1954.

Hulk Speaks Out After Mass Brawl

Hulk apologised for the mass brawl following the match. He said, per Itatiaia Esporte:

Hulk also blamed the referee, Matheus Delgado Candançan, saying he was responsible for the unsavoury scenes.

“It could have been avoided, it could have been avoided. I never tire of saying that the main culprit in everything that happened is Matheus, the referee. I had spoken to him at the beginning of the second half, ‘if you don’t have control of the game, forget it.’ There started being slaps in the face, pushing, and he did nothing.

“It was a very poorly played game, very disjointed. It looked like the friendly in Orlando, all fighting and the referee doing nothing. It’s ugly, it’s ugly for more than 50,000 fans watching, ugly for those watching at home, ugly for those who like to play football. If there’s a fight, and the referee lets it go, it’s ugly. There was no game.”

Cruzeiro manager Tite added: “I regret it. I didn’t want it to happen this way. It was very late in the game. It could have been avoided.

“Can I express my feelings? If the referee is a little more experienced, he ends the game at a specific moment when there’s no contact or conflict. Perhaps he lacked a little experience. That’s why he ended the game soon after.

“He’s young, he refereed well, but he lacked a little more experience to make the spectacle better and end it at an opportune moment. Regardless of the conflict, there were mistakes on both sides.”