Dubai: Golf commentator Helen Alfredsson has been replaced following a remark she made referencing the Glasgow helicopter crash during live coverage of the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters at Emirates Golf Club on Thursday.
As the camera panned toward a helicopter dropping skydivers competing in the Dubai International Parachuting Championships at a nearby location, the Swedish former golfer said: “I hope they are better pilots than they are in Scotland.”
Nine people died last Friday when a police helicopter crashed into a packed pub on the bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow.
Alfredsson’s comments were aired globally as part of a live feed provided by the Ladies European Tour and their TV production partners Ucom. Broadcasters who carried the feed were inundated with complaints.
The Ladies European Tour released a statement from Alfredsson — a 48-year-old who won 11 career titles — which read: “Regretfully I made an inappropriate and distasteful comment on air today and apologise unreservedly for any offence that was caused by this mistake.
“I did not intend to hurt anybody and I am devastated if I have hurt anyone. I feel very embarrassed because this was not intended in any shape or form.”
Ivan Khodabakhsh, the Ladies European Tour CEO, added: “Helen Alfredsson’s comment on air was clearly careless but people who know Helen will realise that she would never have intended to hurt someone and I do not believe this was the case.”
Alfredsson was replaced in the commentary box by fellow Swede Carin Koch on Friday. Koch had been competing in the event but missed the cut.
