Spanish television network Movistar Plus+ has decided to take disciplinary action against pundit German Burgos following a racist comment he made about Barcelona star Lamine Yamal during a live broadcast. The 16-year-old Yamal displayed his talents during Barcelona’s 3-2 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals. However, the match was overshadowed by the inappropriate comments made by Burgos before the game commenced.
As the young Barca player showcased his ball control during warm-ups, one of the pundits praised his skill. However, Burgos then made a disrespectful comment insinuating that the player would lead a destitute life if it weren’t for football. Yamal, who was born in Spain to Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean parents, has unfortunately been the target of racial insensitivity.
The consequences of Burgos’ words were felt immediately by Movistar Plus+, with both Barcelona and PSG players refusing to engage with the TV channel after the match. The broadcaster’s on-pitch reporter, Ricardo Sierra, reported that UEFA, Barcelona, and PSG were deeply disturbed by the comments.
Burgos, who previously served as Diego Simeone’s assistant manager at Atletico Madrid, issued an apology in which he claimed that his remarks were not intended to be racist. However, this did not suffice to prevent his dismissal. Movistar Plus+ announced that they would terminate their association with Burgos immediately and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The broadcaster stated, “Movistar Plus+ condemns all forms of discrimination and will not tolerate such comments from any of its employees or collaborators.” The 54-year-old Burgos took to Instagram to issue a public apology, expressing his regret and emphasizing his respect for football as a unifying force that does not discriminate based on race or ethnicity.
In the aftermath of this incident, Movistar Plus+ is clearly taking a firm stance against racism and discrimination. Such measures are crucial in ensuring a respectful and inclusive environment within the sports media industry.