Mexican Man Apologizes for Racist Gesture at South Korean Fan During World Cup Match
Ninoda.com – A video capturing a Mexican man making a slanted-eyes gesture during a World Cup encounter between South Korea and the Czech Republic has ignited controversy. The clip, shared by a South Korean content creator, went viral after showcasing the man’s actions. The incident took place last Friday in Guadalajara, where the match saw South Korea overcome a deficit to secure a 2-1 victory.
Public Reaction and Apology
The man, Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, was seated behind Yoon Su-jin, who posted the footage on Instagram. His slanted-eyes pose, commonly associated with East Asian stereotypes, was met with swift criticism online. Many Mexicans expressed shame over the gesture, while others defended it, emphasizing that Bernal “doesn’t represent all Mexicans.”
“You traveled across the world for the World Cup… and experienced racism…” — Yoon Su-jin’s caption on Instagram
Bernal issued a public apology on Sunday, acknowledging the widespread attention his actions had drawn. He stated, “I believe it is important to offer a public apology… I sincerely regret everything this situation has caused.” The apology followed reports of his removal from the presidency of the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of Jalisco (CITGEJ), as noted by the New York Post.
Impact of the Video
Yoon’s post garnered 65,000 comments and was shared over 120,000 times. One user remarked, “Ugh so terrible. And then he laughs like he cracked the best joke,” highlighting the emotional response to the moment. Bernal, who had previously been a prominent figure in the engineering community, now faces scrutiny as he vows to uphold his commitment to respect in both personal and professional life.
