The mocking comments directed at Ramin Yamal (17, Barcelona) have angered both teams.
“FC Barcelona refused to give an interview to Spanish broadcaster ‘Movistar’ after beating Paris Saint-Germain (PSG),” Forbes reported on Nov. 11 (KST).
FC Barcelona defeated Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 3-2 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals of the 2023-2024 season at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France, in the early hours of the 11th.
It was Barcelona who scored the first goal. The hosts took the lead in the 37th minute of the first half when Xavi rattled the net. PSG scored back-to-back goals from Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha in the third and sixth minutes of the second half, but Barcelona scored again in the 17th and 32nd minutes to secure the 3-2 victory.
The game ended without any interviews with the broadcasters. Normally, after the match, the managers of the two teams, or a player honored, would take the microphone, but Barcelona refused to do so.
According to Forbes, both PSG and Barcelona boycotted the interviews. The reason: former Atletico Madrid head coach Hermann Burgos, 55, who was a commentator for the broadcaster Movistar, made hateful remarks.
Before kickoff of the game, Burgos watched Barcelona prospect Ramin Yamal handle the ball on the touchline and said, “Look at this. Look at the quality of his kick. This young player is juggling the ball by walking with different parts of his body,” he said.
He crossed the line. “If he doesn’t make it as a soccer player,” Burgos said, “Yamal might have to stand at a stoplight and mouth off.
Although he was joking, his comment was taken as a racist or classist remark in Europe. The joke was meant to evoke the image of people juggling to beg for money when cars are stopped at traffic lights.
Fans were also outraged by the fact that Yamal, the target 스포츠토토 of Burgos’ jokes, was a very young player, born in 2007.
“The comment implied that Yamal, the son of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean immigrants, would be selling or begging at traffic lights if he didn’t succeed in his career,” the outlet said. It was a racist remark.”
Ultimately, both teams declined to be interviewed. According to Forbes, host Ricardo Sierra said, “Many viewers will want us to interview Barcelona. But PSG and Barcelona are very angry about the comments. Both teams have informed us that they will not participate in the interview.”
Burgos, meanwhile, said: “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. It was about soccer. If anyone was offended, I will apologize publicly,” he said.