TS Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic says SuperSport TV intentionally cut off his post-match interview after he informed them before the game ended that he wanted to express his sadness about the death of people in the Israeli-Gaza conflict.
This happened as Galaxy beat Mamelodi Sundowns 5-4 on penalties in the Carling Knockout Cup Round of 16 at Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday, adding that he was surprised by SuperSport to condemn the killing because South Africa went through Apartheid themselves.
Hundreds of people have been killed by an explosion at a crowded hospital in Gaza City, health officials according to reports. Palestinian officials said the blast was caused by an Israeli air strike. But the Israeli military says it was the result of a failed rocket launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad – an accusation the militant group rejected.
Israeli warplanes and artillery have been bombarding Gaza in response to an unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October by the main Palestinian militant group, Hamas, which killed 1,400 people.
More than 3,000 people have been reported killed by strikes on Gaza. This left Ramovic eager to express his views of what is happening in Gaza and asked SuperSport TV before the interview, but he was denied, leading to the interview to be cut short and camera going to the stands.
“The truth is, I asked SuperSport before the game ends… if I can say something about the things happening in Palestine,” Ramovic told iDiski Times when asked why his post-match interview was short.
“They did not allow me. I said I don’t want to talk about the game and I continued to talk about the Palestine incident and they cut it off and I think that is a shame because it was my voice.
“I think to do something like this shows I don’t know what, but again I’m not a politician. I just wanted to say that our prayers are with the people of Palestine and the president of South Africa [Cyril Ramaphosa] has said that we are against any kind of violence.
“South Africa went through Apartheid, Palestine is going through the same in front of the eyes of the world. This is what I said and they cut it off.”
The game at the 2010 World Cup venue was overshadowed by a broken leg of Barnard Parker following a tackle by Bongani Zungu and the former Bafana Bafana striker was taken off with a stretcher.
Ramovic was asked whether he expects to be sanctioned by the PSL for his short interview.
“I said things and they cut it and exactly what I told you now and this is what I said but they didn’t show it, they showed the people in the stands,” said Ramovic.
“So it is not me that I didn’t want to talk. It doesn’t matter which people died – from Israel and Palestine, we are the same human beings. I wanted to make it clear that we see what is happening in Gaza because it is sad.
“It is sad that SuperSport TV is not allowing me to do my interview because every life matters.”
iDiski Times has asked SuperSport TV for a comment.
