By 
Tottenham Hotspurs
midfielder “Dele Alli” has been handed a one-match ban by the English Football
Association after joking about the coronavirus in a social media video and will
miss his side’s first Premier League match after the restart.
midfielder “Dele Alli” has been handed a one-match ban by the English Football
Association after joking about the coronavirus in a social media video and will
miss his side’s first Premier League match after the restart.
Media report revealed that
Dele Alli posted a Snapchat clip in which he made fun of an Asian man in an
airport departure lounge in February 2020.
Dele Alli posted a Snapchat clip in which he made fun of an Asian man in an
airport departure lounge in February 2020.
The England international was
shown wearing a face mask and the video had the title: “Corona whattt,
please listen with volume”.
shown wearing a face mask and the video had the title: “Corona whattt,
please listen with volume”.
The video was depicted to an
unsuspecting man of Asian appearance before panning to a bottle of antiseptic
hand wash, underneath which appeared the caption: “This virus gunna have
to be quicker than that to catch me”.
unsuspecting man of Asian appearance before panning to a bottle of antiseptic
hand wash, underneath which appeared the caption: “This virus gunna have
to be quicker than that to catch me”.
Dele Alli later deleted the
post and posted an apology to the Chinese social media network Weibo.
post and posted an apology to the Chinese social media network Weibo.
He was charged with
misconduct by the FA on February 26 and his case has now been heard.
misconduct by the FA on February 26 and his case has now been heard.
The one-game suspension means
Dele Alli will miss Tottenham’s game at home to Manchester United on June 19,
their first of the resumed season.
Dele Alli will miss Tottenham’s game at home to Manchester United on June 19,
their first of the resumed season.
Dele Alli has also received a
£50,000 ($63,000) fine and will have to attend an educational course.
£50,000 ($63,000) fine and will have to attend an educational course.
“Dele Alli has been
suspended for one match with immediate effect, fined £50,000 and must undertake
a face-to-face education course,” an FA statement read.
suspended for one match with immediate effect, fined £50,000 and must undertake
a face-to-face education course,” an FA statement read.
After the FA issued the ban,
Alli again expressed regret for his action.
Alli again expressed regret for his action.
“In response to the FA
decision, I would like to apologise again for any offence caused by my
behaviour,” he said.
decision, I would like to apologise again for any offence caused by my
behaviour,” he said.
“It was an extremely
poorly judged joke about a virus that has now affected us more than we could
ever have imagined.
poorly judged joke about a virus that has now affected us more than we could
ever have imagined.
“I’m grateful that The
FA has confirmed that my actions were not racist because I despise racism of
any kind. We all need to be mindful of the words and actions we use and how
they can be perceived by others.”
FA has confirmed that my actions were not racist because I despise racism of
any kind. We all need to be mindful of the words and actions we use and how
they can be perceived by others.”
Alli’s suspension continues a
troubling period for the 24-year-old after knife-carrying burglars broke into
his house recently.
troubling period for the 24-year-old after knife-carrying burglars broke into
his house recently.
Following an altercation with
Alli, who was shaken but not seriously hurt, the men made off with jewellery.
Alli, who was shaken but not seriously hurt, the men made off with jewellery.
