Chelsea apologize for Kenedy's offensive media comments

July 23: Chelsea have posted an apology on its website after their Brazilian player Kenedy posted two offensive videos against China before a pre-season friendly match in Beijing.

In the video Kenedy posted on Instagram last Friday, he wrote the words “Porra China”, which means “F**K China”. He also used the words ”Wake up, China” in Spanish after shooting a video of a  Chinese security guard resting. Kenedy has since deleted the videos and apologized on social media.

The club said in its statement, “Kenedy’s actions were a mistake that he will learn greatly from. He has been strongly reprimanded and disciplined.” In addition, Chelsea “sincerely apologises for the hurt caused to our Chinese fans as well as to the Chinese people.”

Kenedy came to China with his club to play in a pre-season friendly with Arsenal in Beijing. However, Chinese fans and media were provoked by his videos before Saturday’s game. 

Both the Chinese State-owned CCTV and People.com.cn have been following the latest updates of the scandal and and have criticized both Kenedy and Chelsea football club. People.con.cn commented that China did not welcome players and clubs like Kenedy and Chelsea, who had come all the way to China to insult the hospitable and friendly Chinese people.

This summer, many world famous clubs including  AC Milan, Bayern Munich and Dortmund have come to China to play lucrative pre-season friendlies or International Champions Cups games. Football star Cristiano Ronaldo also paid his first personal visit to China. 

Source: The Paper

Proofread by Raymond Fitzpatrick