– they wanna be ur friend when in the limelight but when ur having a tough time they r nowhere – parasite.”
However, when confronted about his cynical comment, Butler quickly apologised, insisting it was only meant for certain journalists.
“I’m sorry if I offended all journalists especially the ones here in Terengganu.
“I didn’t mean to generalise but the comment was directed at those who reported untruths,” he said before the Turtles training session at the Sultan Ismail Stadium yesterday.
Terengganu Media Club president Ayob Mamat slammed Butler for his unprofessional conduct.
“Having a cynical view of journalists just because their opinion is not the same as his is not right. We are all entitled to our opinion and views.
“The coach should look at ways to improve his team instead of taking it out on the journalists who are just doing their job,” he said.
Terengganu FA president Datuk Che Mat Jusoh said Butler must think twice before making such remarks, even if it is on social media.
“I believe he may have made the comment in the heat of the moment given the performance of the team.
“It’s good that he has apologised but he needs to be more tactful in the future,” he said.
Journalists’ club slams Butler over twitter message
The Terengganu Journalists Club (Kawat) has slammed Terengganu football coach Peter Butler as being unprofessional for having labelled journalists as parasites in a Twitter message.
Kawat President Ayob Mamat said the club was disappointed over the statement issued by Butler.
He said Butler, as a professional coach, should not have issued such a statement but should have instead accepted the reality of the situation pertaining to the team under his guidance.
“He should not look down upon journalists just because they do not share his views. He should look at himself instead of blaming others and do something to improve the declining performance of his team,” he told Bernama.
Butler, a former Kelantan coach, had tweeted that “I have to laugh at journalists – they wanna be ur friend when in the limelight but when ur having a tough time they r nowhere – parasite”.
However, Butler apologised after many people reacted negatively to his statement, and explained that the comment was directed only at journalists who had reported contrary to what he had said.
Ayob said journalists only reported what happened and what they could analyse, and if the reports were unfavourable, he should be accept it openly.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Football Association President Datuk Che Mat Jusoh said he had advised Butler to exercise greater wisdom when making comments because journalists “are our friends”.
He said he regretted that there had been a misunderstanding over the Twitter message and gave the assurance that such a mistake would not recur.
“It is good that he (Butler) has apologised because that is the right thing to do,” he said. — BERNAMA
