The Spanish TV channel Movistar Plus+ fired the commentator and analyst Herman Burgos after the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona because of an inappropriate remark towards the young talent of the Catalans Lamine Yamal, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Burgos, who is a former Argentina national team goalkeeper and assistant coach at Atletico Madrid, said at one point in the match after a mistake by the young winger that "if professional football is not going well for him, always can work on the traffic lights". The TV channel has now officially apologized to Yamal.
The comment apparently referred to people in a difficult situation who stand at traffic lights and beg for money from stopped cars. Because of him, the players from both teams refused to give a statement on Spanish television after the match.
Burgos made the remark about 16-year-old Lamin Yamal, who was born in Spain to parents with roots in Morocco and Equatorial Guinea.
Herman Burgos apologized after the match, stating that "sometimes humor gets you into trouble,", then posted a new apology stressing that he "had no intention of offending Lamin Yamal, quite the opposite." .
Movistar Plus+ assured that they "will take the necessary measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again", and then announced that they were terminating their contract with Burgos with immediate effect. The television also warned all other commentators.
Yamal became an important part of Barcelona as well as the Spain national team, breaking several records at an early age. He became the youngest player of Barcelona and the national team and the youngest goalscorer of Spain.
Burgos' remark added fuel to recent racism scandals in Spain, with 16 incidents in recent months involving Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior.