Mourinho defends Alli over coronavirus video

Dele Alli is t racist and regrets posting a social media video which appeared to joke about new coronavirus, said Tottenham Hotspur manr Jose Mourinho on Friday. Mourinho put 23-year-old Spurs and England midfielder's Snapchat video down to "a young generation" error, although player has been asked by English Football Association (FA) to explain post. Alli's video -- which was subsequently deleted after several complaints were me -- showed him wearing a face mask in an airport departure lounge with mess 'Corona whattt, please listen with volume'.

He moved camera towards an Asian man before showing a bottle of antiseptic hand wash, with a caption saying 'This virus gunna have to be quicker than that to catch me'. death toll from China's virus epidemic neared 1,400 on Friday with six medical workers among victims, underscoring country's struggle to contain a deepening health crisis. Nearly 64,000 people are w recorded as having fallen ill from virus in China.

COVID-19 epidemic -- as World Health Organization formally named it -- has also reached Britain where nine cases have been identified.

"I spoke with him (Alli) about that but it was quite an easy conversation because he was very sorry about -- let's say, mistake -- but it was never his intention to hurt or offend," said Mourinho at his Friday press conference.

"He immediately regretted and recognised it was a young generation mistake and he apologised.

"I have a son at same as Dele and many of players.

"I kw social media is for his generation but when you are a public person like footballers are, y have to kw and y have to be very, very careful.

"Dele is a great guy. last thing he is, is anything connected with racism." 

FA's guidelines around media comments and social media posts remind participants that it will consider charges under Rule E3 if it is felt that someone has acted in an improper manner or brings game into disrepute. Manchester City's Bernardo Silva was banned for one game and fined USD 65,000 earlier this season after what was deemed an inappropriate tweet to team-mate Benjamin Mendy.