Sacked Arsenal Fan TV pundit Claude issues grovelling apology to Son Heung-min in emotional video amid racism storm
SACKED Arsenal Fan TV pundit Claude Callegari has issued a grovelling apology for making a racist comment towards Tottenham star Son Heung-min.
Callegari said “DVD’s going off” when the South Korean was subbed during Sunday’s North London derby.
It is a derogatory slur against Asian people that labels them as someone who sells DVDs.
Regular guest Claude has now been removed from the show “indefinitely”.
Callegari uploaded a video to Twitter where he apologised for the words he used and said that he will “punish himself”.
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The 56-year-old said: “Good morning everyone. Well, not good for me.
“I want to make an apology unfortunately – what happened here a few days ago with the game against Spurs.
“The timing was all wrong when I made the comment and it has caused a lot of offence.
“I want to apologise to Spurs fans and Son for that, for the offence it has caused.
“What can I do? It has caused a lot of offence and I want to apologise, I admire Son as a player.
“It wasn’t meant in that way but as it has caused a lot of offence, and it has.
“I’m going to apologise to you, the Spurs fans, and especially Son and his family at how it has come out and there is not more that I can say than that.
“Me and Robbie have come to an agreement that I’ve come off the channel, and I have to accept that.
“And I will punish myself as well, don’t worry about that.
“I don’t want to say anymore. I don’t know what to say more than that, it wasn’t meant in that way. All I can do is apologise. I am sorry if it has caused any pain.”
CALLEGARI ON EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Channel owner Robbie Lyle has issued a lengthy apology on his Twitter page following the incident.
He wrote: “I would like to sincerely apologise for the derogatory remark heard on the AFTV livestream on Sunday, and for the response video that we put out today where we failed to apologise and take onus for the comment.
“As a channel that has millions of of viewers around the world, I fully recognise the power that comments made by myself or people on our platform have, and it is paramount that we do not allow comments of this nature to be made in any form.
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“As such, it’s only appropriate that Claude is removed from the channel indefinitely.
“In no way do I or AFTV condone racism of any kind and it is important we take appropriate action in line with the comment made.”
Robbie, who created the channel back in 2012, confirmed Claude will also undergo an education programme.