Ian Wright appreciated the comments of Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira and a player from the same team.
Ian Wright said that the Africa Cup of Nations was being disrespected by some negative media coverage.
A host of stars from the English and European leagues will be in the competition.
The tournament should be given more respect, according to Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira.
Is the Africa Cup of Nations more disrespected than any other tournament? Wright said something.
He claimed that there is no greater honor than representing your country. The coverage is racist.
There's no issue at all, we played our Euros in the middle of a PAIN. A single country hosting a tournament is a problem.
There are players who are asked if they will honour their national team calls. Imagine if that was an England player. Can you imagine a furore?
The Africa Cup of Nations might have some players from the premier league.
The suggestion that a player would want to miss the tournament to play for their club shows disrespect for Africa, said the Ivoirian player.
He asked if a European player would ever have been asked to go to a European Championship.
I will go to represent my country. That is the highest honor.
Having to miss club games is very frustrating. I don't like having to choose between my country and my club.
Crystal Palace are set to lose key players in January, including Cheikhou Kouyate, Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew, but that didn't stop Eagles boss Vieira from agreeing with Haller's sentiment.
"I will never stop a player from going to play for their country because I know how important it is to represent your country and I respect and understand the passion and importance of that," said Vieira, a World Cup and European Championship winner as a player with France.
The European Championships are as important as the competition.
The title hopefuls face significant absences, with the leading scorer in the league, Mo Salah, and two other forwards, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita, set to take part in the tournament.
The leaders will lose Riyad Mahrez while the second-place team will be without a goalkeeper and the third-place team will be without Said Benrahma.
Only four of the league's clubs are not losing players for the tournament.
The rule that clubs must release players by 27 December was changed in the spirit of goodwill and solidarity, so that players can play for their clubs until 3 January.
"Africans are the best players in Europe right now," said Wright.
If we love them at club level, why can't we love them at international level? The tournament is getting a lot of flak.
"I want to give a shout out to the players who are taking a stand against the media backlash, and also to the player who came out and spoke about it, Patrick Vieira."
This is why it is important to have a black manager who can let people know where his roots are and how important this tournament is for African people.
I wish all the best to the players and the fans of the tournament that will be hosted by Cameroon.
The final match of the Africa Cup of Nations will be shown live on the BBC.
