Real Madrid and Spain defender Dean Huijsen has publicly apologised after posting content on social media that has been widely condemned as racially offensive. The 20-year-old footballer, who had a standout season with Bournemouth in the Premier League before his high-profile transfer to Madrid, shared a video on his Instagram account, which boasts over 5.2 million followers.
Apology Issued on Chinese Social Media Platform
Huijsen took to Real Madrid's official Weibo account to express his remorse, stating in Chinese: 'I sincerely apologise to my Chinese friends. I previously forwarded content that included offensive messages unintentionally. It was completely unintentional, and I regret the distress caused.' Weibo is one of China's largest social media platforms, with more than 580 million monthly active users, making this apology strategically targeted at the affected audience.
Content Details and Immediate Backlash
The now-deleted post featured comments that were perceived as racist towards Chinese individuals. One remark read: 'Even the Chinese call him Chinese,' while another user posted: 'You could blindfold him with dental floss.' Followers quickly criticised the content, branding it racist and demanding an apology. Comments flooded in, with one user questioning: 'While Real Madrid is speaking out against racism, Huijsen is making racist remarks against Chinese people. Why hasn't the club responded?'
Another comment highlighted commercial concerns, posting: 'If you don't want to lose the Chinese market, please apologise immediately.' A third demanded: 'Huijsen must apologise to Chinese fans, now!' Despite the apology on Weibo, there has been no official statement from Real Madrid on their global channels, such as Instagram and X, which have 181 million and 49 million followers respectively. This has led some supporters to call for a more widespread apology to address the issue globally.
Context of Recent Racism Incidents in Football
This incident occurs amidst ongoing racism controversies in European football, particularly involving Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. In a recent Champions League match against Benfica, allegations surfaced that Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni directed discriminatory remarks at Vinicius. The match was paused for 10 minutes by referee Francois Letexier due to reported racial abuse.
According to reports, Prestianni has told UEFA that he used a homophobic slur rather than a racist comment, specifically denying he said 'mono' (Spanish for 'monkey'). Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe claimed Prestianni racially abused Vinicius five times, but Prestianni insists his opponent misinterpreted the remarks. UEFA is currently investigating 'allegations of discriminatory behaviour' in this case.
Broader Implications and Fan Reactions
The Huijsen incident has sparked discussions about consistency in anti-racism efforts within football clubs. Fans have pointed out the irony of Real Madrid advocating against racism while one of their players shares offensive content. The apology, though made, has not been disseminated through Madrid's primary social media accounts, raising questions about the club's commitment to addressing such issues comprehensively.
As the football community continues to grapple with racism and discrimination, this event underscores the importance of responsible social media use by high-profile athletes and the need for transparent, global responses from clubs to maintain credibility and support from diverse fan bases.
