Tottenham complains about reporter after he leads abusive chants with Arsenal fans

Tottenham has reportedly lodged a formal complaint with the Premier League after ESPN Brazil’s UK correspondent, João Castelo Branco, was seen leading abusive chants about the club among Arsenal fans in São Paulo. The footage is said to have been filmed as a group of Arsenal supporters watched a match.

Tottenham has reportedly asked that Castelo Branco not be assigned to cover its matches or interview its players and manager Roberto De Zerbi, while stressing that it is not seeking to stop ESPN Brazil from broadcasting its matches. The Premier League is mediating talks between the club and the network over the matter, which is being treated as a media accreditation issue.

Castelo Branco apologised directly to the club, saying he had made a mistake given his role as a UK correspondent and had realised that the footage could offend Tottenham and its fans. He added that the footage had been posted on a podcast’s Instagram page and then reposted on his personal page, and that he would reconsider the limits of the persona he presents on the podcast. Tottenham is considering the apology during the international break.