According to The Independent, Sky Sports issued an apology yesterday evening after being accused of stereotyping Latin footballers on the back of Graeme Souness’ comments about Erik Lamela.
Souness was doing punditry work for Sky Sports alongside Patrice Evra for Tottenham’s trip to Old Trafford yesterday which ended up being an extremely one-sided affair, with the Lilywhites emerging 6-1 victors.
One crucial point in the game was Anthony Martial’s red card, with the United forward receiving his marching orders midway into the first-half as Erik Lamela went down after an off the ball altercation.
Souness insisted on Sky Sports that Lamela went down too easily and suggested that it was a common trait among Latin footballers.
He is quoted by The Independent as saying (Sky Sports Main Event 04/10/20): “If Martial is going then Lamela has to go. He raises his hands, Martial lashes out, it’s like a tickle across your chops and he’s gone down.
“It is pathetic. It’s very Latin. If one goes, both have to go. It’s pathetic. Is this what the English game is about? We, the Brits, do it differently.
“I’ve played in a Latin country, I’ve worked in Latin countries, I know how they see the game.
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“Lamela will sleep well tonight thinking he has done a great piece of work for his team. That is not us.”
Former Tottenham midfielder and manager Osvaldo Ardiles took issue with Souness’ comments and accused the former Liverpool man of stereotyping Latin players.
Sky Sports presenter David Jones is then said to have issued an apology on air for Souness’ comments following Aston Villa’s win over Liverpool.
Jones reportedly said (Sky Sports Main Event 04/10/20 – 21:00 onwards): “Now I have to say before we go, earlier in the show we were critical of Erik Lamela’s part in Anthony Martial’s sending off in the Manchester United/Spurs game. We’d like to apologise for any offence that was caused and the stereotyping of the Latin culture.”
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