A Mexican fan has issued a public apology after being filmed making a racist gesture in the stands behind a popular South Korean influencer during a World Cup match in Mexico. The incident occurred on Thursday during the World Cup clash between South Korea and the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium.
Incident and Immediate Backlash
The supporter, identified as Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, was caught on camera pulling the corners of his eyes—a gesture widely considered offensive to East Asians. The video was posted on Instagram by Yoon Su-jin, known as Ino Cat, with the caption: "You travelled across the world for the World Cup... And experienced racism..." The clip quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread condemnation from Mexicans and others.
The video garnered more than 65,000 comments and was shared numerous times. One user commented: "Please don't judge Mexico by the actions of one person. He doesn't represent who we truly are. Most Mexicans are kind, warm, welcoming, and genuinely happy to share our country with others. I'm very sorry you had that experience, and on behalf of the people who strive to show the best of Mexico, I sincerely apologise." Another wrote: "Apologies for the drunk guy, as you've realised Mexicans in general we're not like that. Mexico is your home, enjoy your stay, you're always welcome!"
Public Apology and Resignation
The backlash continued to escalate over the weekend, leading Miramontes to issue a public statement addressing the incident and confirming his resignation from his job. He said: "Whenever a foreigner visits Mexico, we want them to feel at home, and what happened was the complete opposite. This is why I am making this video—to issue a public apology to Ino Cat, the Korean girl who was affected by an inappropriate gesture a few days ago during the South Korea match in Guadalajara. I'd like to extend my apology to the Korean community, the foreign community and all Mexicans who felt they were not being represented in the right way by this act."
He added: "From the bottom of my heart, I want to express my regret, and it's important to recognise when we're in the wrong. This morning, I also resigned from my role at the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of Jalisco (CITGEJ) following the uproar, because I want to separate the institution from the controversy. This is something personal, and I will hold my hands up to the consequences, as I should. I've contacted Ino Cat to try to see her and apologise in person, as it should be done. This situation has hurt me a lot, and I know it affected many people. But I want to say from my heart that I regret my actions, and I will never do anything like this again. Many thanks."
Renewed Debate on Racism in Football
The controversy has sparked renewed discussion about racism in football and whether sufficient measures are being taken to combat discriminatory conduct at major international competitions. FIFA's anti-discrimination rules permit penalties against fans, teams and national federations, although no action concerning this incident has been declared at the time of writing.
South Korea will be back on the pitch in the early hours of Friday, squaring off against Mexico at the same location—the Guadalajara Stadium.
