A Spanish television station has taken swift action by dismissing a pundit following a contentious remark made about Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal ahead of their Champions League fixture against Paris St-Germain.
German Burgos, a pundit working for Movistar, found himself in hot water after making a controversial comment while discussing footage of Yamal showcasing his skills.
Burgos reportedly remarked, “If it doesn’t go well for him, he could end up at a traffic light,” during the discussion.
Both Barcelona and PSG opted not to grant interviews to Movistar following the game in response to the incident.
In a statement released on Thursday, Movistar Plus+ unequivocally condemned any form of discrimination and affirmed that such comments would not be tolerated from any individuals associated with the platform.
The remark, perceived as a derogatory reference to individuals who perform at traffic lights and solicit money from drivers, occurred before Barcelona’s quarter-final first-leg victory against PSG on Wednesday.
Burgos has since expressed remorse for his comment, acknowledging that it was made without the intention of causing harm.
“It was a comment made without meaning to hurt anyone. We talk about football, nothing else. If he felt offended, I am sorry and I apologise publicly,” he stated.
Burgos, aged 54, boasts a distinguished football career, having earned 35 caps for Argentina and spent six years playing in Spain with Mallorca and Atletico Madrid.