A former US soccer player working for Fox as an analyst deleted a tweet he posted saying that standing for the national anthem “takes courage.”
Alexi Lalas later also apologised for making the remark, and issued a statement clarifying that he supports those trying to bring attention to ‘the problems of police brutality and systemic racism’.
Following more than a dozen players in the National Women’s Soccer League taking a knee Saturday, Lalas wrote that “Now it takes courage to actually stand for the national anthem.”
He was immediately targeted for cancellation by the woke mob:
@AlexiLalas, nice to know your political opinions suck as bad as your soccer opinions. You’re garbage. pic.twitter.com/MkY6FhyPKC
— Dan (@SeeDanielTweet) June 29, 2020
If this is your takeaway from the organized action by our players, you clearly haven’t been listening, Alexi. https://t.co/4WERoR6gn7
— National Women’s Soccer League (@NWSL) June 27, 2020
No. Colin Kaepernick and Megan Rapinoe had real courage. https://t.co/iLEj38UW8L
— Jozy Altidore (@JozyAltidore) June 27, 2020
https://twitter.com/GothSpiceFC/status/1276969216793550848
While we’ve interacted with Alexi Lalas in the past, we cannot support or ignore his recent statements. It’s time to change our country fundamentally. Protagonist will no longer share our platform with Alexi and will be removing any appearances on our site or podcast feed.
— Protagonist Soccer (@ProtagonistUSA) June 28, 2020
Since Alexi Lalas is trending, it seems like the perfect time to remind people that he is a rotten anti-African xenophobe who sat behind ESPN’s commentary desk during the 2014 World Cup and claimed that no African team would make it to the round of 16. Nigeria did. He is vile. ?????
— Chidike Okeem (@VOICEOFCHID) June 27, 2020
Lalas immediately caved and issued an apology for his words:
I wrote a few more words about today… pic.twitter.com/1jDGXEEK33
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) June 28, 2020
Others had some keen advice for Lalas:
Here some advice: Never apologize to the Mob. Never!
— DannyClinton (@pride130) June 29, 2020
You were right though. If you stand with respect for the American flag and Anthem you will likely be called a racist and not “woke”….which is ridiculous
— William MD ?? (@MiloD07) June 29, 2020
Now, all you have to do is kiss their shoes! pic.twitter.com/NUXOtrJvvE
— BigDog25 (@Dog25Big) June 29, 2020
https://twitter.com/AMERICA85182401/status/1277508750090186752
You chickened out. I hope the paycheck was worth losing your spine. Congratulations.
— Armin van der Horst ???? (@ZillaHorst) June 29, 2020