RIO FERDINAND was forced to leave TNT Sports' studio during Newcastle's Champions League draw against Paris Saint-Germain.
TNT Sports host Laura Woods revealed Ferdinand was not present due to "unforeseen circumstances".
Ferdinand had been present for the pre-game show and half-time coverage of PSG vs Newcastle.
However, with the Manchester United icon missing from the post-match lineup of pundits, Laura issued a statement on his whereabouts.
After speaking about TNT's coverage of United vs Galatasaray on Wednesday, she said: "Rio would be here to chat about Manchester United now but we had to let him go [due to] unforeseen circumstances.
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"He is OK, don't worry."
Ally McCoist and Jermaine Jenas were on hand to provide game analysis alongside Woods.
Both were left in disbelief at a late penalty decision which was awarded to the Ligue 1 side against Tino Livramento for handball.
McCoist told Newcastle boss Eddie Howe that he felt his team was "robbed" of a win.
Alexander Isak had put the Magpies ahead in the opening stages by taking advantage of a poor save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
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However, Newcastle were soon penned back into their own half and defended resolutely before seeing their hard work undone by Kylian Mbappe's 98th-minute spot kick.
A 3-1 win for Borussia Dortmund at AC Milan means it is a one-game shootout for one of three teams to progress into the knockout stages of the Champions League.
PSG sit on seven points, while Newcastle and Milan both sit on five.
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The Toon host Milan in their final group stage game, knowing they must win to stand a chance of progressing to the last 16.
A defeat will see them knocked out of European football entirely.
