Chinese commentator sorry over anti-Socceroo rant
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Hiddink ... lost all his courage faced with Italian history and
traditions ... He finally reaped fruits which he had sown! They
should go home. They don't need to go as far away as Australia as
most of them are living in Europe. Farewell!
"I don't like Australians indeed" ... Huang Jianxiang
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AdvertisementChina's most popular television football commentator
has been forced to apologise for an extraordinary outburst of
pro-Italy bias during his call as the Azzurri knocked Australia out
of the World Cup.
Huang Jianxiang, who was commentating for an audience of millions
on the state-run CCTV, was unable to control his enthusiasm when
Fabio Grosso went down in a challenge and a last-minute penalty was
awarded to the Italians.
"Penalty! Penalty! Penalty!" he screamed. "Grosso's done it,
Grosso's done it!
"The great Italian left back! He succeeded in the glorious
traditions of Italy! Facchetti, Cabrini and Maldini, their souls
are infused in him at this moment!
"Grosso represents the long history and traditions of Italian
soccer, he's not fighting alone at this moment! He's not
alone!"
The massive Chinese television audiences are not often served up
such South American-style passion and Huang's paean to Italy at the
dramatic climax of Australia's 1-0 loss has provoked a storm of
controversy in the media.
More was to come when Francesco Totti converted the penalty to win
the match and Huang had a special mention for Australia's Dutch
coach Guus Hiddink, whose South Korea side knocked Italy out of the
last World Cup.
"Goooooal! Game over! Italy win! Beat the Australians!" he shouted,
his voice now breaking.
"They do not fall in front of Hiddink again! Italy the great! Left
back the great! Happy birthday to Maldini! Forza Italia!
"The victory belongs to Italy, to Grosso, to Cannavaro, to
Zambrotta, to Buffon, to Maldini, to everyone who loves Italian
soccer!
"Hiddink ... lost all his courage faced with Italian history and
traditions ... He finally reaped fruits which he had sown! They
should go home. They don't need to go as far away as Australia as
most of them are living in Europe. Farewell!"
In a letter of public apology, Huang wrote: "I have attached too
much personal feeling to the match of Italian versus Australia at
the end of the game last night. I will apologise to those fans who
express their dissatisfaction, opinion and criticism."
After the match Huang had said he could not remember what he had
said in the heat of the moment and his preference for Italy was
because he had commentated on Serie A for many years.
"I'm more familiar with Italian players ... and I don't like
Australians indeed," he said.
"I was hoping they'd do badly here."
Australia recently joined the Asian Football Confederation and from
the next World Cup will contest for one of their qualification
spots.
"Do you remember how China were blocked from going to the Spain
World Cup in a qualifier in 1981?" Huang said.
"It was a team just like Australia, all of whom were living and
playing in England but with New Zealand passports. It still hurts
... and in 2009, Australia will be just like New Zealand at that
time."
HUANG JIANXIANG'S LETTER OF PUBLIC APOLOGY
Dear soccer fans and TV viewers around the country:
I have attached too much personal feeling to the match of Italian
versus Australia at the end of the game last night. After I woke up
this morning, I reviewed the video of the match again and I feel
there are some injustice and prejudice in my comment. I will make
formal apologies to viewers.
I am familiar with the Italian football and I hope that the
Italians can gain a berth in the last eight, which will make the
matches in the [future] more exciting, but I have mingled my
feeling and the role of my job. It is not a standpoint that a TV
commentator should have. I will apologise to those fans who express
their dissatisfaction, opinion and criticism.
I will draw the lesson from this case and remind me of the role of
my job and keep my personal feeling and job balanced. When we live
broadcast the matches, we hope referees can be just, and as a
commentator, I will try my best to be fair and to do a good
job.
Wish every fan happiness with the World Cup matches.
Reuters
