USMNT player Paul Arriola apologizes after offensive tweets resurface

United States forward Paul Arriola (7) reacts to a play during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Trinidad and Tobago, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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A member of the United State men's national team has apologized after his offensive tweets from nearly a decade ago resurfaced earlier this week.

Paul Arriola, who currently plays for Swansea City on loan from D.C. United, said he was "ashamed" by the tweets and insisted he has grown as a human since the time he posted the tweets in question:

The tweets in one group of screengrabs currently circulating all come from 2012, when Arriola was 17 years old and a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy youth academy. In the tweets, Arriola expresses disapproval over female color commentators, quotes a Rick Ross lyric containing a racial slur, uses the same racial slur while apparently interacting with a friend and makes a joke about Black people swimming.

All of the tweets have since been deleted.

Arriola signed with Tijuana in Mexico in 2013 and moved to the United in 2017 for a club record $3 million fee. He was loaned to Swansea City, which currently plays in the second-tier EFL Championship, last month for the rest of the season. He has made 35 appearances with the USMNT since 2016, scoring eight goals.

Swansea City released a statement saying Arriola has agreed to undergo bias training when he returns to United:

Swansea City has been made aware of historical social media posts by Paul Arriola, prior to his arrival at the club.

We want to make clear we do not condone any form of discriminatory behaviour from anyone associated with our club.

Swansea City has been discussing the issue with Paul, and we support his decision to be the one to address these historical tweets and to issue an apology.

Paul is committed to participating in both unconscious and conscious bias training, which he will undertake upon his return to DC United.

Swansea City will be making no further comment on this matter.

The U.S. Soccer federation released another statement, calling Arriola's tweets not acceptable and reiterating its commitment to an inclusive environment:

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