ALBAWABA - Abigail Velez, an American award-winning reporter from Los Angeles, has been covering the World Cup as the tournament unfolds across the American continent - prior to the upcoming match between the U.S. and Bosnia, she made an ignorant joke about the country which forced her to apologize later.
During a viewing party in Los Angeles, Abigail talked about the U.S.’s upcoming match against Bosnia after their 3-2 loss against Turkey, saying:
“The next round, Team USA will play Bosnia next Wednesday and one thing about Bosnia, I could not point out where it is on a map,” Velez quipped. “I don’t know the first thing about Bosnia and I don’t want to know 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,” she said before tossing the report back to the station.
Bosnians erupted on X, making various posts declaiming the reporter’s ignorant comments about their country:
Under pressure, however, the reporter was forced to apologize - saying in a later statement on X:
“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. 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,” she added. “Wishing all the teams the very best as they continue their World Cup journey.”
As the World Cup continues across the U.S, it seems that a few culture clashes here and there are inevitable.
