Mexican Fan Makes Racist Gesture at World Cup Match
A Mexican man who was filmed making a gesture considered racist to East Asians during a World Cup match has issued a public apology. The incident took place on Thursday evening during the fixture between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, which South Korea won 2-1.
On Friday, South Korean content creator Yoon Su-jin posted a video of herself attending the match. In the background of the footage, Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes can be seen pulling the corners of his eyes and laughing.
Yoon, who operates under the online alias Ino Cat, holds an audience of 6.6 mln subscribers on YouTube and over two million followers on TikTok. She uploaded the clip to Instagram with a caption stating that she had travelled across the world for the tournament only to experience racism.
Social media backlash and dismissal
The footage quickly circulated across social media platforms. The post attracted 65,000 comments and was shared at least 120,000 times. A significant portion of the comments came from Mexican users who condemned the actions and stated that the behaviour did not represent their country.
The online response led to immediate professional consequences for Bernal. According to a spokesperson who spoke to the New York Post, Bernal was removed from his role as president of the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of Jalisco (CITGEJ) following the incident.
Statement and apology
Bernal published a public statement on Sunday addressing the footage. He acknowledged that the video had reached a large audience and generated a significant reaction online.
In his statement Bernal formally apologised and expressed regret for the situation. He stated that he had reflected on his actions, understood his responsibility and did not intend to justify his behaviour or debate the interpretations of the gesture. He concluded the apology by stating that he has always aimed to treat others with respect and will work to ensure his future actions reflect those standards.
