Football pundit Jamie Carragher last night made a surprise comeback just three weeks after he was suspended by Sky Sports for spitting at a 14-year-old girl.
The ex-Liverpool and England defender gave his views on the Champions League quarter-final first leg between Juventus and Real Madrid on Denmark’s TV3 Sport.
Carragher, 40, was dropped on March 12 from his £1million Sky Sports job until the end of the season after the shocking spitting incident was caught on camera.
Ex-Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher (right) gave his views on the Champions League quarter-final first leg between Juventus and Real Madrid on Denmark’s TV3 Sport
Carragher made a surprise comeback just three weeks after he was suspended by Sky Sports
But TV3 Sport decided to allow Carragher, who is a Champions League expert exclusively for the MTG network in Scandinavia, to continue his punditry for them.
MTG Sport chief executive Peter Norrelund said: ‘There must be no doubt that he deeply regrets the episode and is shocked at his own behaviour.
‘Jamie apologises to the family in question, as he is also in dialogue with, as they are now also in a bad situation, among other things, being harassed on social media.
‘It’s a real record of history, but that said, I do not think that a single mistake should have such serious consequences that we can no longer have Jamie on the team.’
Police said they had recorded the incident as an assault – but no action would be taken against Carragher because it was not in the public interest to charge him.
Carragher spoke to the media before the match which saw Real Madrid beat Juventus 3-0
Manchester United fan Andy Hughes, 42, filmed Sky’s Monday Night Football pundit spit at his car while his 14-year-old daughter sat in the passenger seat.
Carragher apparently lost his temper after being goaded by the die-hard United fan about Liverpool’s loss to their bitter rivals on March 10.
The player apologised for his ‘moment of madness’. Spitting is a common assault and is punishable by a £5,000 fine, community order or up to six months in prison.
Several ex-players came out to offer their support following the incident, including his fellow Sky pundit and former United defender Gary Neville.
Mr Hughes and his family, of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, also insisted that they did not want the football analyst to lose his job.
Carragher, pictured with Craig Bellamy, while previously carrying out punditry on Sky Sports
Sky confirmed that Carragher would be banned from appearing on the channel until the end of the season, but it hinted he could be allowed back following help.
It said Carragher, who is worth £15million and has made the most appearances in European competition for Liverpool with 150, will not be paid while suspended.
I do not think that a single mistake should have such serious consequences that we can no longer have Jamie on the team
Peter Norrelund, MTG Sport
Mr Hughes and Carragher were driving out of Manchester in slow traffic after the game when Mr Hughes apparently spotted the ex-player and repeatedly beeped his horn to get his attention.
In the clip, Mr Hughes, who quit his job as an aircraft engineer two years ago to care for his wife, Sarah, 38, who has a neurological condition, can be heard light-heartedly taunting Carragher, saying, ‘2-1, 2-1, unlucky Jamie lad, 2-1 lad.’
He then videos the moment Carragher opens his window and spits at his car, apparently catching his daughter in the face.
Mr Hughes was spoken to by police for using his phone while driving and told he will face no further action.