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Jonathan White

Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli has apologised for a social media post mocking the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
In a now deleted video posted on Snapchat, the 23-year-old England international looks at the camera while wearing a face mask in an airport lounge.
The video, made ahead of going on holiday to Dubai during the English Premier League winter break, begins with the caption “Corona whattt, please listen with volume.”
A number of what are believed to be Chinese accents are heard before the camera then focuses on a man of Asian appearance.


It then cuts to a bottle of hand sanitiser with the caption “This virus gunna have to be quicker than that to catch me.”
Alli deleted the video after a number of complaints and then subsequently apologised on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like social media platform, in a video and in writing.
Coronavirus: all the major international sports events affected by the epidemic


“Hi guys, it’s Dele. I just wanted to apologise on my behalf for the video I posted on Snapchat yesterday. It wasn’t funny and 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 because it wasn’t funny and I realise that straight away and took it down. It isn’t something that should be joked about.
“I’m sending all my love and all my thoughts and prayers to everyone in China.”
Xenophobia spreads quicker than virus in football world
Chinese social media users did not hide their disdain for Alli, with several Sina Sports users saying that they hoped he got a broken leg.
One Sina Sports commenter in Hebei province was not happy with the apology, writing “Prayers? Why not donate?”
Another argued that at least Alli apologised, citing incidents with Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil where their social media posts offended Chinese users and they did not apologise.
Virus fears see football teams refuse to play Wuhan in Spain
The offensive video came just 10 days after Alli wrote a Weibo post wishing everyone in China well in the fight against the virus.
“Ni Hao China. Wishing you a very happy new year and all the best in the Year of the Rat. Also my thoughts are with all those infected by the coronavirus in Wuhan and the rest of China, stay strong and keep fighting!”
Olympic gold medal winning speed skater Csaba Burjan was banned for 12 months last week after a social media post in December from Shanghai’s Pudong Airport that many in China deemed “racist”.

"We deserve a trophy, but nobody is going to give it to us."

"Not just for us, but for the fans, we need to win something."

Son Heung-min and Dele Alli reflect on Spurs comeback win over Southampton...

@ReshminTV #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/71XxSCn1uN
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 5, 2020

Elsewhere, since the coronavirus outbreak began in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, there have been a growing number of racist incidents reported around the world.
Alli’s South Korean Spurs teammate Son Heung-min was racially abused on social media while a 13-year-old Chinese boy was told “I hope you get the virus too” while playing football in Italy.


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English Premier League

Tottenham star Dele Alli says sorry to Chinese fans for mocking coronavirus

Tottenham Hotspur's English midfielder Dele Alli celebrates scoring against Arsenal in 2018. Photo: AFP

David Beckham, Sun Yang and Jeremy Lin among stars supporting Wuhan virus fight

Jeremy Lin of the Beijing Ducks in action in the Chinese Basketball Association. Photo: Xinhua

Former England captain David Beckham slips as he free kicks at a sports field during his visit in Wuhan, Hubei province, March 23, 2013. Beckham arrived in the Chinese capital city on Wednesday to begin his role as China's soccer envoy, according to local reports. REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA - Tags: SPORT ENTERTAINMENT SOCCER TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA

(191209) -- YORK, Dec. 9, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Ding Junhui of China celebrates with his trophy after winning the Snooker UK Championship 2019 final match against Stephen Maguire of Scotland in York, Britain, on Dec. 8, 2019. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Xinhua)

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Wang Shuang in action for China at the Asian Games. Photo: Reuters

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Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min celebrates scoring in the Uefa Champions League. Photo: Reuters

Tottenham's Son Heung-min celebrates his goal against Norwich City during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

新華社照片，廣州，2017年3月12日 　　（體育）（8）足球--中超：廣州富力勝長春亞泰 　　3月12日，長春亞泰隊球員伊哈洛（左）在富力隊門前搶點。 當日，在2017賽季中超聯賽第二輪比賽中，廣州富力隊主場以1比0戰勝長春亞泰隊。 新華社記者劉大偉攝

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Anderson Talisca of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrates a goal in the Chinese Super League. Photo: Xinhua

Coronavirus: all the major international sports events affected by the epidemic

The 2020 World Athletics Indoor Championships are the most high-profile sporting casualty of the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Sport

China

Football


England international deletes Snapchat video before apologising on Chinese social media after deleting video
‘It wasn’t funny’, says 23-year-old after appearing to mock coronavirus and Asian man at airport



Spurs star Dele Alli says sorry to Chinese fans for mocking coronavirus outbreak on Snapchat.
