Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Barcelona have boycotted interviews following racist taunts from a broadcaster’s commentator.
The first leg of the 2023-2024 European Football Association (UEFA) Champions League quarterfinal first leg between PSG and Barcelona at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France, ended in a 3-2 victory for the Catalans on Monday (Nov. 11). The two teams will meet in the second leg on April 17 in Barcelona, Spain.
Barcelona took the early lead in the match. In the 37th minute of the first half, Zafinha opened the scoring on a counterattack. PSG fought back in the second half. Ousmane Dembele equalized in the third minute of the second half, and Lee Kang-in scored in the fifth minute of the second half, before Vitinha pulled a goal back.
However, Barcelona were not to be denied. In the 16th minute of stoppage time, goal-scorer Xavi struck again with his left foot to equalize, 스포츠토토 and in the 31st minute, Andreas Christensen scored a header from a corner to seal the win.
The TV coverage of the match ended with no post-match interviews.
Usually, after the game, the managers of both teams are interviewed and the player of the match is asked to give his thoughts on the day. However, this was not the case on this day.
According to the UK’s Daily Mail, PSG and Barcelona boycotted the post-match TV broadcast and interviews. This is because former Atletico Madrid coach Hermann Burgos (55), who was a commentator for the broadcaster Movistar, was found to have made racist remarks.
“If it doesn’t work out as a soccer player, he might have to stand at a traffic light,” Burgos joked while watching Ramin Yamal juggle the ball on the touchline before the game.
But the remark is seen locally as racist or classist. It was a joke about the people who juggle to beg for money when cars are stopped at traffic lights.
What’s more, Burgos’ target, Yamal, is now a young player, born in 2007, and viewers were outraged.
Eventually, Burgos’ comments reached the ears of officials from both teams, and they agreed to boycott the postgame interviews, choosing instead to give interviews to other outlets. “I didn’t mean to offend anyone,” Burgos said on air. If anyone was offended, I apologize publicly,” he said on air.
“I know that many fans were expecting us to talk to Barcelona or give an interview,” said host Ricardo Sierra, adding, 무료 슬롯 “But PSG and Barcelona have informed us that they are upset by our comments and will not be attending.”
Burgos, a former Argentina goalkeeper, is best known for his work as an assistant coach to Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone from 2011 to 2020.