Michel Morganella has become the second Olympic athlete sent home from the Summer Olympics due to an offense message on Twitter.
Two days before the Games even started, Voula Papachristou of Greece was given the boot after disrespecting African-Americans in a joke about West Nile mosquitoes.
Now Morganella - a member of the Swiss soccer team - has suffered the same fate after a defeat to South Korea resulted in a Tweet that included references to wanting to "punch" and "burn" the victors from that nation.
"As a member of the Swiss Olympic mission he gravely discriminated, insulted and violated the dignity of the South Korean football team and the South Korean people,” Swiss team chief Gian Gilli told reporters. "As a consequence of this behavior Michel Morganella, having conferred with the Swiss Football Association, is immediately stripped of his Olympic accreditation and all future participation in the Olympic tournament.”
Morganella subsequently took responsibility for his actions, saying:
“I made a huge mistake after the disappointing result. I wish to apologize to the people in South Korea and their team, but also to the Swiss delegation and Swiss football in general. I obviously accept the consequences for my actions.”
The Swiss are third in Group B and play Mexico on Wednesday in their next match.
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