"I let myself down and the club... It isn't something that should be joked about, says Tottenham midfielder in apology posted on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
Monday 10 February 2020 10:08, UK
Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has issued an apology after appearing to mock an Asian man and making jokes about the ongoing deadly coronavirus outbreak.
Alli is seen wearing a facemask in an airport departure lounge ahead of a short holiday while Tottenham are on their winter break, before the video posted on social media was soon removed.
The 23-year-old, who has won 37 senior England caps, said he has let himself and his club down with his actions. Tottenham are declining to comment on the story first reported by the Daily Star on Sunday morning.
"I'd like to apologise for the video I posted on Snapchat yesterday," Alli said in a video released on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
"It wasn't funny. 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.
"It isn't something that should be joked about. Sending all my love and thoughts and prayers for everyone in China."
A group of what are believed to be Chinese accents can be heard in the background before Alli turns the camera towards an unsuspecting man of Asian appearance.
The video then pans to a bottle of antiseptic hand wash, which was captioned: "This virus gunna have to be quicker than that to catch me."
