The Telegraph have been forced to issue an apology to Sunderland midfielder Adam Johnson after publishing some bizarre accusations following his goal against Newcastle.
Johnson scored a penalty as his team claimed a 3-0 win in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby and celebrated with outstretched arms at scoring the game’s opening goal.
In the Telegraph’s post-match report, it was alleged that Johnson’s celebration could be interpreted as a reference to the two Newcastle fans who were killed when flight MH17 was shot down above Ukraine in July 2014.
The report said: ‘If there was one sour note for the Black Cats it was an accusation that Johnson had goaded Newcastle’s supporters with an aeroplane celebration after his successful spot kick.
‘Some claimed the former England international was making a spiteful and provocative reference to the two Newcastle supporters who died when a Malaysia Airlines Flight was shot down over Ukraine last year. Johnson should apologise for any offence caused, even if was not intended as it was perceived.’
The only thing Johnson appeared to be guilty of was employing the least original celebration ever, and the Telegraph issued an apology while also agreeing to make a donation to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, saying:
‘In an earlier version of this report, we included the accusation that Adam Johnson had goaded Newcastle’s supporters with an aeroplane celebration after he scored his goal, which we suggested was a reference to the two Newcastle supporters who died when on the crashed Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine, last year.
‘We now accept that there was absolutely nothing in the goal celebration which could be sensibly taken to have been a reference to these tragic deaths. We apologise unreservedly to Mr Johnson and have agreed to pay a sum of damages to the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.’
