We've all watched an American stream of a live 'soccer' game. Usually, we get an overexcited main commentator squealing alongside a retired player that never made it higher than the middle of the Premier League table (cough, Danny Mills).
Anyone who tuned into NBC's coverage of Tottenham against Liverpool yesterday got a bit of a surprise though. Four-time Premier League winner with Arsenal Lee Dixon was doing the co-commentary (which probably annoyed a couple of Spurs fans).
Liverpool started the game hot, scoring twice in the opening twenty minutes and going on numerous counter attacks. When Roberto Firmino was hacked down by Son Heung-min, a standard yellow card was issued. However, on the replay, Dixon was just a tad insensitive.
LOOOOOOOOL how can the commentator say "HAAAIIYAA, karate kick" at Son pic.twitter.com/pkpi79wrHu
— Tristán (@TheFamousRed) February 11, 2017
Son Heung-min, of course, is South Korean. Spurs fans on social media were immediately calling for Dixon to be sacked. But not all of the public were convinced that Dixon had been racist, leaping to the pundit's defence.
Sneaky racist "HI-YA!" sound effect by Lee Dixon on the Son "karate kick."
— DK (@dmkrieg) February 11, 2017
Not really racist for me. He probably would've said it to any other footballer, regardless of their race.
— UncleBens_Reus (@UncleBens_Reus) February 11, 2017
challenges like this are done weekly and I have never once heard a commentator say that.
— Ulti-ˈfyu̇r (@Ultifur) February 11, 2017
Neither NBC nor Dixon have released a statement have commented about Dixon's karate kick line.
