Rachel Riley maintains that she did not refer to Tottenham Hotspur as “bottle jobs” in the wake of their defeat to West Ham on Friday night.
The Friday Night Football presenter made headlines for seemingly using a phrase that so many had used to describe Spurs in seasons gone by but Riley was criticised by some for dismissing the admirable title bid from Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
“It’s Deja Vu for Spurs, isn’t it? Proper bottle job.”
https://twitter.com/Keels811/status/860601502863380480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joe.co.uk%2Fsport%2Frachel-riley-tottenham-bottle-job-124374
Manuel Lanzini’s second-half goal all but hands the Premier League trophy to Chelsea, who sit four points ahead of their nearest rivals Spurs with a game in hand at the time of writing.
Riley, a Manchester United fan, took to Twitter after the broadcast to respond to the backlash that followed her comment, insisting that no offence was meant to Spurs supporters.
Didn’t mean any offence to Spurs or their fans tonight just a surprise to slip v WHam with their form on paper. Personal abuse is hideous.
— Rachel Riley MBE 💙 (@RachelRileyRR) May 5, 2017
For the record I didn’t say Spurs are bottle jobs but tonight’s game was a test of nerve. WH hadn’t beaten any of the top 6 in the PL 1/3
— Rachel Riley MBE 💙 (@RachelRileyRR) May 5, 2017
this season & after a great run to slip now is disappointing for Spurs. As a MUFC fan neutral in the title run closer would’ve been 2/3
— Rachel Riley MBE 💙 (@RachelRileyRR) May 5, 2017
more interesting. I love football, always have, always will, banter is fun, abuse is not whoever/whatever/wherever #respect ⚽️🙅🏽♂️🙅🌈👕❤️3/3
— Rachel Riley MBE 💙 (@RachelRileyRR) May 5, 2017
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