Germán Burgos is fired after controversial comment about Lamine Yamal

Germán Burgos, former Argentine goalkeeper and Simeone’s technical assistant at Atlético Madrid, was fired from Spanish television where he was a commentator, the day after some “inappropriate” comments about Lamine Yamal, the young FC Barcelona footballer, which provoked controversy.

“Movistar Plus+ and Germán ‘El Mono’ Burgos will immediately stop collaborating on the platform’s programs,” the television announced in a statement.

The measure is taken “in compliance with the television’s internal code of conduct,” “which contemplates a policy of zero tolerance for any discriminatory behavior,” added Movistar, calling the comments of the person who was its collaborator until today “inappropriate.”

Burgos participated on Wednesday night as a commentator on the Movistar television channel in the broadcast of the match between the French team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Barça, in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.

After some images of Yamal touching the ball in the warm-up, Burgos said of the 16-year-old boy that “if he doesn’t do well, he ends up at a traffic light,” alluding to those who dedicate themselves to asking for money by juggling at traffic lights when they are driven by them. They are detained.

The Spanish press called the comments “classist,” and Diego Simeone’s former assistant coach at Atlético Madrid apologized after Barça and PSG decided to boycott Movistar and not give him post-match interviews.

“It was a comment without trying to hurt anyone. If anyone felt offended, I apologize publicly,” Burgos initially said on Movistar. “In these times you have to adapt to everything and that’s what we’re in,” he added.

Later, he published a statement on his Instagram social network account, deepening his apology. “It was not my intention to do any harm to Lamine Yamal, to the people of FC Barcelona,” wrote the 54-year-old former River Plate or Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper.

“I chose to make a joke about the quality and praise the virtues (of Yamal), in no case was it about any ethnicity or social class,” he added.

Movistar also apologized for the words about the young attacker, whose prominence this season has taken him to the Spanish team.