An ABC7 Los Angeles reporter has apologized after making what she described as “insensitive” and “thoughtless” on-air comments about Bosnia and Herzegovina during a World Cup broadcast. The remarks, made during a watch party in Long Beach, quickly went viral and drew a response from the Bosnian national football team.
Abigail Vélez, reporting on Team USA’s upcoming match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, stated she “could not point out where it is on a map” and expressed a lack of interest in learning about the country, asserting dominance for the U.S. team. "I don’t know the first thing about Bosnia and I don’t want to know because Team USA, we’re back, we’re better than ever. Get prepared Bosnia, because you don’t want it like that, but you’re gonna get it,” Vélez said during the broadcast.
The Bosnian Football Team’s official X account responded to the comments, noting the stereotypes involved and highlighting that ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic, who was appointed in 2024, is from Sarajevo, Bosnia. “My goodness, the stereotypes write themselves…” the team posted, later adding, “The worst part is the confidence that she said this with!” The post has garnered millions of views.
Vélez subsequently released a statement apologizing to the people of Bosnia and the Bosnian Football Team. “In a poor effort to have a little fun with World Cup competition, I took it too far and made a thoughtless comment on air that was insensitive and inappropriate,” she wrote in an Instagram post shared by the team. She added, “The World Cup is supposed to be about uniting communities around the world, and my comment didn’t reflect that spirit. Wishing all the teams the very best as they continue their World Cup journey.”
The controversy has divided social media users, with some dismissing Vélez’s remarks as harmless sports banter and others condemning them as ignorant. Karamehmedovic, who oversees ABC News, has previously spoken about approaching his role with respect for colleagues and viewers.