Nigerian cleric and gospel artiste, Pastor Dolapo Lawal, has publicly apologised to Arsenal fans after facing widespread criticism over his earlier comments about the English football club.
The pastor had gone viral weeks earlier after a video surfaced in which he confidently declared that Arsenal would not win the Premier League title, sparking heated reactions from football fans across social media.
In the controversial clip, he also made remarks that were widely interpreted as mocking the club and its supporters, including claims that discouraged dating Arsenal fans—comments that triggered backlash online.
Following Arsenal’s eventual success in the league race, Lawal released a follow-up apology video acknowledging that his earlier statements were made in the spirit of banter rather than prophecy or spiritual declaration.
“I was joking. I am not cursing Arsenal. God didn’t tell me anything about Arsenal. It was just normal banter,” he said in a clip circulating online.
He added that his intention was never to offend supporters of the club but to engage in light-hearted football rivalry, which he said escalated beyond his expectations.
In his apology message, the pastor congratulated Arsenal fans and admitted that the team had proven doubters wrong, while urging supporters to accept his apology in good faith.
He further invited Arsenal fans to a Thanksgiving-style gathering, describing it as a moment to celebrate the club’s achievement and move past the controversy.
The apology has since been widely shared across social media platforms, with mixed reactions from users—some accepting his explanation, while others continued to criticise his initial remarks.
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