ABC Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez has issued an apology after making 'inappropriate' comments about Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United States' opponents in the World Cup Round of 32. In a news segment, Velez said she didn't 'know the first thing' about the Balkan nation, sparking online backlash.
Apology issued after backlash
Velez faced a torrent of online abuse after the clip spread on social media. By Saturday, she posted a public apology: '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.' She added that the World Cup should unite communities, and her comment didn't reflect that spirit.
Original comments and context
In the original broadcast, Velez said: 'Okay, the next round Team USA will play Bosnia next Wednesday, and one thing about Bosnia is I could not point out where it is on a map. I don't know the first thing about Bosnia [and Herzegovina], and I don't want to know. That's 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.'
The United States men's national team, coached by Mauricio Pochettino, will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in San Francisco on Wednesday. The US is seeking its first World Cup knockout victory since defeating Mexico 2-0 in the Round of 16 in 2002.
Bosnia among smallest nations in knockout stage
Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of under 3.5 million, is among the smallest nations to reach the World Cup knockout stage, alongside Cape Verde after its draw with Spain. Velez's comments drew comparisons to Donald Trump's style, often boasting about American supremacy while displaying ignorance of global affairs.
