ABC Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez was forced to apologize after filming an “inappropriate” news segment in Bosnia and Herzegovinia last week. After the Balkans were selected as the United States’ opponent in the World Cup finals, he boasted that he knew nothing about the Balkans from the beginning.
Velez faced a barrage of online abuse after the clip quickly spread across numerous social media platforms. By Saturday, she felt she had to publicly apologize.
The U.S. men’s national team is scheduled to play Bosnia and Herzegovina next Wednesday in San Francisco in the Round of 32 of the World Cup. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are aiming for their first World Cup finals victory since beating Mexico 2-0 in the last 16 of the 2002 tournament.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of less than 3.5 million people, ranks alongside Cape Verde as the smallest African nation to reach the World Cup finals tournament following an impressive draw with Spain.
“In a poor attempt to have some fun at a World Cup match, I went too far and made insensitive, inappropriate and thoughtless comments on air,” she wrote.
“I apologize to the Bosnian people and the Bosnian football team. The World Cup is supposed to be about uniting communities around the world, and my comments did not reflect that spirit.”
“We wish all the teams the best as they continue their World Cup journey.”
Velez’s original broadcasts reflected the approach of Donald Trump, who regularly touted America’s superiority while flaunting a lack of knowledge of international issues to project strength.
So what exactly did Beres say? “Now, in the next round, Team USA will play Bosnia next Wednesday, and the one thing about Bosnia is we don’t know where they are on the map,” the ABC reporter said.
“I don’t really know about Bosnia (and Herzegovina), and I don’t want to know. That’s Team USA. We’re back and we’re better than ever.”
“It’s next Wednesday. Get ready, Bosnia, because you don’t want it to happen. You don’t want it to happen, but it will happen. It’s next Wednesday.”
