It was crowded for the press in Paris after the Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona. Movistar+ ended up disappointed. Both quarter-finalists decided to boycott the Spanish TV channel. The reason for that was a remark made by analyst German Burgos.
The broadcasting rights for the Champions League in Spain are held exclusively by Movistar+, which found itself at the center of controversy following remarks made by one of its analysts, German Burgos.
During a match broadcast between Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Parc des Princes, Burgos, a former goalkeeper and assistant coach at Atlético Madrid, made an inappropriate comment about Barcelona's young talent, Lamine Yamal. As Yamal was warming up and showcasing his ball-juggling skills, Burgos remarked, "If things don't work out for Yamal, he can always stand at a traffic light," implying that the player could juggle at traffic lights for spare change, a comment seen as demeaning.
This remark did not sit well with Barcelona and PSG, both of whom took immediate action by boycotting Movistar+, refusing to engage in any post-match interviews or communications with the broadcaster. This move underscored their disapproval of Burgos's comment, viewing it as disrespectful and not representative of the values they uphold regarding their players.
Following the backlash, Burgos issued an apology, explaining that his comment was meant as a joke about Yamal's quality as a player and was not intended to demean him based on ethnicity or social status. He expressed regret for any offense his remark may have caused.
Despite the controversy, the match concluded with a victory for Barcelona, who won 2-3 in Paris, thanks in part to a key goal from substitute Andreas Christensen. The return leg of the match is scheduled to take place in Barcelona, with kickoff at 9:00 PM next Tuesday, promising another exciting encounter between these two football powerhouses. The incident has sparked a broader discussion about the standards of professionalism expected from sports commentators and the impact of their words on players and the sporting community.
