British footballer Dele Alli apologises for coronavirus post in emotional video
Dele Alli and Lucas Moura look dejected after Southampton's Danny Ings scored their second goal. Reuters
Dele Alli, who plays for British football club Tottenham Hotspur, was hit by injuries for more than a year – between June 2018 and October 2019. But these injuries seem to pale when compared to the hurt he has caused coronavirus victims over a joke he posted on social media.
In a Snapchat video, the footballer is shown wearing a face mask in an airport departure lounge with the message ‘Corona what, please listen with volume.’
The camera then pans towards an Asian man before showing a bottle of antiseptic hand wash captioned 'This virus gunna have to be quicker than that to catch me'.
He did this while he was on vacation during the Premier League's current winter break.
The coronavirus outbreak has claimed over 1,000 lives.
Alli apologised for posting the video, which he deleted, but this has not prevented the Football Association from launching a probe into the repulsive act. It has demanded an explanation from Alli.
The England midfielder could face a ban or fine. In a damage control move, he apologised in a video on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
"Hi guys, it's Dele; I just wanted to apologise on my behalf for the video I posted on Snapchat yesterday," he said.
"It wasn't funny and I realised that immediately and took it down. I let myself down and the club.
"I don't want you to have that impression of me because it wasn't funny and I realised that straight away and took it down.
"It isn't something that should be joked about. I'm sending all my love and all my thoughts and prayers to everyone in China."
