Ankara: ABC7 Los Angeles reporter Abigail Velez apologized Saturday to the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian national football team after drawing widespread criticism over remarks she made ahead of the United States' FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to Anadolu Agency, Velez issued a statement on social media acknowledging that she had made 'a thoughtless comment on air that was insensitive and inappropriate.' In her post, she admitted that her attempt to inject humor into the World Cup competition was misguided. 'In a poor effort to have a little fun with World Cup competition, I took it too far,' she wrote.

Velez extended her apologies to the Bosnian people and their football team, emphasizing that the World Cup should be a unifying event. 'The World Cup is supposed to be about uniting communities around the world, and my comment didn't reflect that spirit,' she stated. She concluded her apology by wishing all teams success as they continue their participation in the tournament.

The apology came after Velez faced backlash for comments made during a broadcast where she confessed her inability to locate Bosnia on a map, admitted to knowing almost nothing about the country, and expressed disinterest in learning more, before suggesting Bosnia should prepare to face the United States. These remarks quickly garnered attention on social media platforms like X and Instagram, leading to widespread criticism and demands for an apology.