August 22 – An unusual case of discrimination has emerged in Belgium where a top-division player has demanded a public apology and damages following remarks from a television commentator.
TV presenter Stephane Pauwels told viewers during Charleroi’s 2-1 defeat by , KV Kortrijk on Saturday that Frenchman Harlem Gnohere was “fat as a pig. He is 15 kilograms too heavy and he’s going nowhere.”
Gnohere said he was seeking advice from a lawyer because the comments were totally unacceptable.
In a statement, Gnohere demanded that any apology should be made in public. He said he would drop potential charges if Pauwels also made a sizeable donation to a children’s charity.
Pauwels has since responded by saying on Twitter: “Harsh, yes, that’s football. OK, I should have said ‘a few too many kilos’. My apologies.”
Pauwel’s employer RTL Belgium were not immediately available to comment.
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