World Cup reporter forced into apology for inappropriate Bosnia claim | Football | Sport

ABC Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez has been forced to apologise after filming an ‘inappropriate’ Bosnia and Herzegovinia news segment last week, boasting that she doesn’t “know the first thing” about the Balkan nation, after they were confirmed as the United States opponents in the knockout stage of the World Cup.

Velez was subjected to a torrent of online abuse after the clip spread rapidly across numerous social media platforms. By Saturday, she felt compelled to issue a public apology.

The United States men’s national team is set to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup’s Round of 32 next Wednesday in San Francisco. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are hoping to secure its first World Cup knockout victory since defeating Mexico 2-0 in the last 16 at the 2002 tournament.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of under 3.5 million, ranks among the smallest nations to have reached the World Cup knockout stage — alongside Cape Verde, following the African nation’s stunning draw against Spain.

“In a poor effort to have a little fun with World Cup competition, I took it too far and made a thoughtless comment on air that was insensitive and inappropriate,” she wrote.

“I apologize to the people of Bosnia and the Bosnian Football team. The World Cup is supposed to be about uniting communities around the world, and my comment didn’t reflect that spirit.

“Wishing all the teams the very best as they continue their World Cup journey.”

Velez’s original broadcast mirrored Donald Trump‘s approach, regularly boasting about American supremacy while flaunting a lack of knowledge of international matters as a show of strength.

So what exactly did Velez say? “Okay, the next round Team USA will play Bosnia next Wednesday, and one thing about Bosnia is I could not point out where it is on a map,” the ABC reporter said.

“I don’t know the first thing about Bosnia [and Herzegovina], and I don’t want to know. That’s because Team USA. We’re back. We’re better than ever.

“That’s next Wednesday. Get prepared, Bosnia, because you don’t want it. You don’t want it like that, but you’re gonna get it. That’s next Wednesday.”