Rio Ferdinand Says Chelsea’s Star Should Be Fined for Disrespecting Teammates

Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has spoken out about recent behavior by Chelsea’s young winger, Noni Madueke. After Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal, Ferdinand feels Madueke should receive a two-week fine, calling his actions “disrespectful” to his teammates and the club.

During the game, Madueke was taken off and substituted for Mykhailo Mudryk. Instead of staying with the team on the sidelines, Madueke showed his frustration by heading straight down the tunnel. Chelsea fans noticed, and many felt it was disrespectful to the club and other players.

Chelsea’s manager, Enzo Maresca, tried to brush off the incident, calling it minor, but Ferdinand disagrees. He stated that this kind of behavior deserves a fine, saying, “It’s disrespectful to your teammates. I think the manager protecting him is mad—that’s a two-week fine!”

Ferdinand didn’t stop there. He also pointed out that Madueke didn’t seem to put in full effort during a critical moment in the game. When Arsenal started the play that led to their goal, Madueke appeared to jog back slowly instead of sprinting to defend. Ferdinand believes that if Madueke had shown more urgency, he might have helped stop Arsenal’s goal.

Ferdinand believes that when players see a play developing, they should give their best effort. “There’s no excuse for just jogging back when you’re needed,” Ferdinand said. “Especially when you can see unmarked players heading toward goal.”

In Chelsea’s competitive environment, where players are always fighting for spots on the team, professionalism and effort are essential. Fans now wonder if Maresca might rethink his response to Madueke’s actions and consider taking disciplinary steps.