Hull fines Altidore for tweeting apology

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HULL, England (AP)—Hull fined U.S. striker Jozy Altidore on Monday for tweeting an apology after he was left off the squad against Portsmouth because he arrived late for Saturday’s game.

The Premier League club said Altidore would have been on the bench for the 0-0 draw. He was replaced by Will Atkinson.

“It’s unacceptable behavior, full stop,” Hull manager Phil Brown said. “You prepare all week for a match day, mentally and physically. To ask a player to arrive an hour and a half before a game is not too much to ask, is it?”

Altidore, who is on loan from Spanish club Villarreal, didn’t help matters when he tweeted his apology to fans of the Premier League club.

“Apologize to all of you,” he wrote. “I showed up late. Made a big mistake. I’m very, very sorry.”

Brown said the reasons for Altidore being left out should have remained private.

“It’s going to cost him a lot of money, unfortunately,” Brown said. “That for me is information that stays in house. The reason he wasn’t on the bench was our business.”

Updated Oct 26, 10:19 am EDT
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139 Comments

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  1. Anthony L
    139. Posted by Anthony L Wed Oct 28 8:52pm EDT

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    I think Phil Brown kinda went over his head.
  2. Brian W
    138. Posted by Brian W Wed Oct 28 6:24pm EDT

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    128. Posted by Stephen - I don't think it is the fact that we are all Jozy Altidore haters, it's more the fact that here a guy has the opportunity to play in argueably the best football league in the World (EPL) and he makes dumb mistakes. I played football (soccer) in High School in Germany and also played College Soccer. I guarantee you that my Coaches would not have tolerated my coming late to a game, or even a practice for that matter! I would have given anything to have the opportunity he has. It is time he became a Professional and acted like one! Being 19 years old is no excuse for stupidity!
  3. <i>martin_rulz6</i>
    137. Posted by martin_rulz6 Wed Oct 28 2:39am EDT

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    post 134 (ihabb)

    With you on that. I can totally understand if he was told not to make this public, but if it was not the case, then I think Hull has a whole host of problems, one of which is this.
  4. Vinci
    136. Posted by Vinci Tue Oct 27 11:51pm EDT

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    I find it amazing that so many people can comment negatively on truly insignificant acts by anyone. To say that Jozy has no talent is completely irresponsible and actually shows no knowledge of the game at all. Jozy Altidore is untalented? Stop watching or playing the sport...please. You obviously do not understand it.
    So the guy is 19 and tweets...big deal. If we were in his position we may do the same thing. Does anyone remember being 19? When I was 19, I spent the semester abroad in England for the sole purpose of tagging fugly British chicks with the absolute greatest of ease. I mean ease.. like waking up to wizz in the middle of the night. Why hate so much?
    If the organization is so close to the vest why make the comment that “It’s going to cost him a lot of money, unfortunately,”. That seems rather unprofessional on his part...and he's way past 19, not to mention it's Hull city...Who? Again..Hull???? Where? Who? What squad is this?
    It is very easy to be fat and sit on your couch and insult anyone. I would rather be 19 and playing soccer, sorry football(futbal) on a world stage. Lack of self-esteem is really a sad sad thing people...a sad thing
  5. str8J
    135. Posted by str8J Tue Oct 27 10:35pm EDT

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    Dude, seriously. Doesn't yahoo have a UK website where you euro homos can go wack off to Ronaldo and Messi.
  6. ihabb
    134. Posted by ihabb Tue Oct 27 4:05pm EDT

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    Its really quite simple, if Jozy was instructed not to make the matter public, then he deserves the fine since he went against direct orders from the manager. If on the other hand, there were no clear instructions, then the fine is downright unfair, and perhaps illegal.
  7. Tennessee
    133. Posted by Tennessee Tue Oct 27 3:36pm EDT

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    Wow so much hate directed at a kid (yes 19 years old is a kid) who was late to a match he probably wasn't going to play in anyway. I don't think there is any excuse for it and not being allowed on the bench was the right move but come on people and stop hating on the USA soccer players. No they aren't as good as South American and European teams but they have managed to qualify to 6 straight WCs and have gotten to the knock out stage in that run 2 times including a quarterfinal appearance after beating Mexico. If they get an easier group then in Germany they have a chance to advance again. Hopefully Altidore can learn from this lesson and be on time from now on so that he can get some meaningful minutes for Hull. He needs to be in top form for next summer especially with Davies likely out next year. USA is coming SA!!
  8. NoUdaMan
    132. Posted by NoUdaMan Tue Oct 27 2:46pm EDT

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    Brian W. I'm with you. Not many American gets to be rostered on a European club, so to have a chance and do something stupid like being late is F-up. NCAA a 2nd tier league in the US doesn't tolerate tardiness, so why should be highest level of futbol in the world tolerate it? Eventhough it's Hull City.
  9. Marc M
    131. Posted by Marc M Tue Oct 27 1:06pm EDT

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    What's funny is that Jozy is easily the best player on that side, so I'm really not sure what the hell Brown is thinking (unless you add the racial epithets). Hull is the beggar at the feast. If Jozy was apologizing to the fans for something seemingly unprofessional, what's the harm. Perhaps Brown should be apologizing for how much the team sucks. Come home Jozy... we miss you in NYC. I realize the Red Bulls suck worse than Hull, but at least you were appreciated here.
  10. the observer
    130. Posted by the observer Tue Oct 27 12:06pm EDT

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    to all of you that have no clue...which is most about soccer..the guy is 19 and in america that is young for a professional athlete......hull sucks and will never win the Premiership......The young man will pan out somewhere big in time...cut him some slack.......MAN U FOREVER
  11. Stephen
    128. Posted by Stephen Tue Oct 27 10:56am EDT

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    To all you Altidore haters out there has it escape your attention that the guy is still only 19 yrs. old. Give him a break.
  12. Brian W
    127. Posted by Brian W Tue Oct 27 9:49am EDT

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    I don't see why this is such a big deal - even if the moron would have made it to the game on time he would have rode the bench! No big loss. If all Altidore wants to do is tweet then let him tweet his way back to the minor leagues - MLS! Instead of sitting around tweeting all day long he should be out trying to improve what few skills he has. No wonder he is on loan from another team! Rules are rules and everyone should abide by them or suffer the consequences. Saying your sorry just doesn't make it better! Are Americans going to be so forgiving when this idiot shows up late for a World Cup match?! Grow up Dude - you have the opportunity to play the World's most popular sport and perhaps improve your talent to the point of actually being a starter in a REAL football league. Throw that stupid cell phone away, quit the useless tweeting and get out there and practice!!
  13. BruinSeer
    126. Posted by BruinSeer Tue Oct 27 2:25am EDT

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    I am not sure how that FIFA rankings really work but they are not accurate. It is more publicity then anything else. As an example Ivory Coast is capable of beating anyone in the world right now. I am not from Ivory Coast but I do watch teams play. Seriously. They will definitly finish in the top 5 in the World Cup and they should be in the top 10.
  14. BruinSeer
    125. Posted by BruinSeer Tue Oct 27 2:22am EDT

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    CULTURE CLASH In sports, the american way is to apologize publicly whenever a player messes up - these kind of things are not a secret in America - We learn from them and we therefore grow from them - A few years ago, Allen Iverson was late for practice ( I did say "practice") and apologized on TV after having been benched. So, what the heck are the reasons that should have remained private? The club is an organization and the public is the client. The public needs to know what happened. So Altidore did the right thing and it takes someone of character to apologize - Viva la transparency! unfortunately, it is going to cost him some money. .. By the way, How do you bench a coach?
  15. Chi-Town
    124. Posted by Chi-Town Tue Oct 27 1:22am EDT

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    Altidore, what a piece of work, half talent who comes late to a game - then gossipy little bïtch has to announce to the world his feeling.. He's garbage. And all these USMNT fans that think the world of this kid don't know much about soccer - really he has no vision, no touch, ball handling is minimal and he now shows us he has no discipline.. Ok we know you're limited with your abilities so show some fücking discipline you piece of shït.
  16. str8J
    123. Posted by str8J Mon Oct 26 10:00pm EDT

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    Altidore is a young guy, he made a mistake.........he owned up to it. He violate a team rule, and got fined. I'm over it. Next-------------------
  17. Brad
    122. Posted by Brad Mon Oct 26 9:49pm EDT

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    This is BS. The guy is trying to take responsibility for his error, respect the fans and respect his team. He makes a public apology and gets fined?!?!?! Fine him for being late if you want to, but to fine a guy for apologizes is pathetic. Hull is just trying to save costs seeing as they will be in the Champions League next year. Get a life Phil Brown.
  18. Sharpshooter
    121. Posted by Sharpshooter Mon Oct 26 9:32pm EDT

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    Yes. Discipline and professionalism are qualities most young guys are short of. I would say Altidore is in the same situation as Charlie Davis is. I just hope that the two learn from their mistakes and sooner than later. Good boys though, love them both and wish the best for them.
  19. G M
    120. Posted by G M Mon Oct 26 7:45pm EDT

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    The clueless US fans that actually think this kid has talent! Hilarious! He has already been dumped from 3 teams in 3 years... yeah.. that's real talent!! He already thinks he is too good and doesn't have to show up on time! Don't worry US fans.. you can see this overrated clown all you want next year when he does a Donawoman and comes crying back to the MLS!! LMAO!! And to the clueless moron that mentioned all of the US players success in Europe... WHAT SUCCESS??? EVERYONE knows the US produces very good keepers... but that's ALL they produce... everyone is pretty much overrated crap (outside of Dempsey).
  20. joey d
    119. Posted by joey d Mon Oct 26 5:54pm EDT

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    that a dumb reason to fine some one of corse u r gonna bench a player who is late brown made it a bigger deal 4 fineing him than jozys tweet
  21. Anthony L
    118. Posted by Anthony L Mon Oct 26 5:52pm EDT

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    It's not that big of a deal isn't it? He apologizes and gets in a little trouble for it. It's not like they are gonna cut him from the team anyways right? And whoever said Jozy sucks knows nothing about the success that US born players are having in Europe. One big example is Tim Howard.
  22. JonathanM
    117. Posted by JonathanM Mon Oct 26 5:28pm EDT

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    he needs discipline that's all
  23. Andrew P
    116. Posted by Andrew P Mon Oct 26 5:24pm EDT

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    post 111,yo dude your mama is a idiot.HA HA
  24. Putter
    115. Posted by Putter Mon Oct 26 4:32pm EDT

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    A draw against Pompey is like a loss anywhere else. Sheesh...
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