The consequences before Germán Burgos’s comment during the television broadcast of Barcelona’s victory over PSG, in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, they continue to add chapters. And the last one was damning: Movistar Plus+ decided to unlink the Monkey.
“After announcing future measures, Movistar Plus+, in compliance with the internal code of conduct that contemplates a policy of zero tolerance for any discriminatory behavior.”decided to stop collaborating with Germán ‘El Mono’ Burgos “immediately in the platform’s programs and the presenters of the space where these comments occurred will be notified,” the channel announced this Thursday.
Yesterday, both clubs made the decision not to give players to that signal for post-match interviews., as a reprimand for Monkey’s comment about Lamine Yamal in the previous one. That is why there was no attention to the ‘Movistar+’ microphone from either the players or the coaches of either team.
During the warm-up, the cameras focused on forward Lamine Yamal playing little games and exhibiting his great control of the ball and the former goalkeeper said on air: “If you don’t succeed in football you can always end up juggling at a traffic light”. Her phrase was highly criticized on social networks, for being considered racist or classist.
Given that determination, Burgos apologized and stated that at no time did he seek to disrespect Yamal. “It was a comment without trying to hurt anyone. If anyone was offended, I apologize publicly. In these times you have to adapt to everything and that’s what we’re in,” he said. Shortly after, the same network that has hired Mono as a commentator made a statement, also apologizing for the Argentine’s comments.
The message says: “On the occasion of the unfortunate comments made by one of the Movistar Plus+ collaborators in the preview of the UEFA Champions League match between PSG and FC Barcelona about the Barça player Lamine Yamal, The platform apologizes publicly. Movistar Plus+ condemns any type of discrimination and will not allow this type of comments from any of the workers or collaborators linked to the platform.. After what happened, the platform will adopt the appropriate measures to guarantee that these events do not occur again.”
This Thursday, Burgos wrote a personal statement on his Instagram account. There he expresses, once again: “It was not my intention to harm Lamine Yamal, the people of FC Barcelona, the players, UEFA or the Movistar Plus platform where I work. And he added: “When making my comment, I chose to make a joke about quality and praise the virtues, in no case was it about any ethnicity or social class.”.
Likewise, the former goalkeeper for River, Ferro and the Argentine national team expanded: “I am a pro-camera coach and in all the teams I have been on I have been concerned about bringing young people to train with the first team. I apologize to anyone who was offended by my comment. My intention was not to vilify Lamine Yamal, quite the opposite.”
“Football unites everything and everyone, that is why it is the best sport since it does not discriminate based on reason, sex, race, religion, disability, age or sexual orientation. This is what I believe! See you in football! ”She closed.