This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
On June 5, 2020, the Los Angeles Galaxy made a swift decision to part ways with midfielder Aleksandar Katai, following a series of racist social media posts made by his wife, Tea Katai.
The Galaxy's website announced the decision, stating that the two parties had reached a mutual agreement for Katai's departure.
The controversy began when Tea Katai took to Instagram to mock the Black Lives Matter movement and urge violence against people protesting the death of George Floyd, a black man who died at the hands of a white police officer.
The posts were met with widespread condemnation, with the Galaxy labeling them as 'racist and violent.' The posts were subsequently deleted.
As protests against racism and police brutality continue to sweep the nation, with thousands gathering in cities across the United States, including Los Angeles, Katai took to Instagram to apologize for his wife's actions.
'These views are not ones that I share and are not tolerated in my family,' Katai wrote. 'I am sorry for the pain these posts have caused the LA Galaxy family and all allies in the fight against racism.'
Katai, a 29-year-old midfielder, had started for the Galaxy in the first two games of the season before matches were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. He joined the team this season from the Chicago Fire and previously played for Deportivo Alaves in the Spanish league.
