Coronavirus: Alli Apologises Over Insensitive Comment

 

English midfielder, Dele Alli, has offered a public apology after posting a video where he appeared to mock the coronavirus crisis on social media.

The Tottenham player appeared to be in an airport donning a facemask during the Premier League’s winter break. 

The camera was pointed at an Asian man in the departure lounge and then moved to a bottle of hand sanitiser with the caption: “The virus gunna have to be faster than that to catch me”.

READ ALSO: Coronavirus: Over 900 Deaths, Higher Than SARS

Alli deleted the video moments after he had posted it and thereafter took to Chinese most popular social media site, Weibo, to apologise for his insensitive actions.

"I'd like to apologise for the video I posted on Snapchat yesterday," the former MK Dons man said.

"It wasn't funny. I realised that immediately and took it down. I let myself down and the club.

“I don't want you guys to have that impression of me, , it wasn’t funny and I realized that straight away and took it down.

"It isn't something that should be joked about. Sending all my love and thoughts and prayers for everyone in China."

According to news reports over 900 people have died around the world as a result of the virus and more than 37,000 have been diagnosed with the disease.

Though it started in China it has now spread to 28 countries globally, and it has affected the world of football too.

Alli, who has scored five times and assisted twice in the Premier League since the Jose Mourinho took over in November, will be hoping to be back in the goals when Tottenham visit Aston Villa after the winter break.