An official «is no longer employed at the US embassy in London» after he declared his support for England ahead of Friday’s World Cup clash with the United States.
Before the goalless draw in Qatar, the embassy posted a video on its official Twitter account, joking that its spokesman Aaron Snipe had been sacked before the game.
Regarding the tweet, the Embassy said it was «sad» to announce his departure, «but some things are more important than diplomacy.»
In the video, Snipe can be seen walking into the office wearing an England scarf, where he receives disgusted looks from a couple of colleagues.
When he gets to his office, which is hung with flags of England, someone has printed letters that spell «traitor» and taped them to the glass panel, along with the stars and stripes.
Then a colleague walks in and tells him that «HR called» and they want to see him «now».
The video then cuts to Snipe being told off.
“Look man, I don’t know why I have to be the one to remind you, but you’re an American. You work for the US Embassy. You can’t support England,» an anonymous man tells him. I’m going to need you to remove those decorations. Take off that shirt. And I don’t want to have to call you here again.
Standing up, Snipe replies, “Okay. Good talk.
On his way out, he removes his England home shirt, only to reveal that he has an away shirt underneath.
Then a line appears that reads: «Aaron Snipe is no longer an employee of the United States Embassy in London.»
Among those who responded was lady karen pierceBritish Ambassador to the United States and former President of the United Nations Security Council.
«He can be our new @UKinUSA Sports Attaché,” he tweeted. Jane Hartley, the US ambassador to the UK, responded: «You can keep it.»
Some might argue that the video was more entertaining than the game that the US dominated but ended in a scoreless tie.
A well organized US team pressured well and frustrated England and could be disappointed in the end after creating the best chances in the game.
The United States, with two points after drawing twice, sits in third place in Group B, behind England and Iran, which earlier in the day scored an impressive victory against Wales.
The Americans finish pool play on Tuesday against Iran and a win over Team Melli would guarantee nothing worse than a second-place finish and a US breakthrough.