Lead
Fifa has invited a South Korean YouTuber who was subjected to a racist gesture during a World Cup match in Mexico to attend another game in the same city, according to reports. The invitation, which Fifa described as a way to deliver a "message of inclusion and respect," comes after Yoon Su-jin, known online as InoCat, filmed a Mexican man pulling the corners of his eyes at her during a match between South Korea and the Czech Republic.
The incident occurred on June 11 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, where South Korea came from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1. Yoon, who has 6.6 million followers on YouTube and more than 2 million on TikTok, posted a video of the gesture on Instagram, drawing widespread outrage and condemnation online.
The man in the video was later identified as Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, then president of the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of Jalisco (CITGEJ). He issued a public apology and was removed from his position, according to multiple reports.
Coverage comparison
Coverage of the story has focused on two main angles: the personal consequences for Bernal and Fifa's broader response. The BBC, in its report, highlighted Bernal's apology and removal from his post, while also noting the online backlash and the fact that many Mexicans expressed disgust at his actions. The South China Morning Post (SCMP), in two separate articles, also covered the incident, with one piece emphasizing the Fifa invitation and the timing of the match with the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
All three reports agree on the core facts: the gesture occurred, Bernal was identified, he apologized, and he lost his position. However, the SCMP articles frame the story in the context of hate speech and xenophobia, while the BBC report focuses more on the individual incident and its immediate consequences. The invitation from Fifa is mentioned only in one of the SCMP articles, according to the available extracts.
Key claims
- A Mexican man made a racist gesture at a South Korean fan during a World Cup match in Guadalajara. The man was identified as Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes. This is reported by all three sources.
- Bernal apologized for his actions and was removed from his position as president of the CITGEJ. This is confirmed by the BBC and one SCMP article, with the BBC citing a spokesperson for the guild.
- Yoon Su-jin posted a video of the incident on Instagram, which drew significant online attention, including 65,000 comments and 120,000 shares or reposts, according to the BBC.
- Fifa has invited Yoon to attend another World Cup match in Guadalajara, which it plans to use to deliver a message of inclusion and respect. This claim appears in one SCMP article and is attributed to Korean media citing a Fifa statement. It has not been independently confirmed by other outlets covered here.
Perspectives
The victim's perspective: Yoon Su-jin, who traveled to Mexico for the World Cup, experienced racism first-hand and shared her experience online. Her caption noted that she came all the way to Mexico for the tournament, and she questioned whether she was being "too sensitive." Her video sparked widespread sympathy and outrage, with many commenters expressing support.
The perpetrator's perspective: Bernal, who was wearing Mexico's away jersey, made a gesture that is widely seen as disrespectful to East Asians. In his public apology, he acknowledged that the video had circulated widely and "generated a wide range of reactions," though he did not explicitly admit to racism. He has since lost his professional position.
The Mexican public's response: Many Mexicans expressed disgust and embarrassment at Bernal's actions, with some commenting that he "doesn't represent all Mexicans." Others apologized on his behalf, indicating a desire to distance themselves from his behavior.
Fifa's response: Fifa's invitation to Yoon is framed as a proactive measure to counter hate speech and promote inclusion. The choice of the match on the International Day for Countering Hate Speech is significant, suggesting a deliberate effort to use the global platform of the World Cup to send a message. However, critics might question whether an invitation to a single individual is sufficient to address broader issues of racism in football, though the reports do not include such criticisms.
As of the latest reports, no further developments have been announced regarding the invitation, and Yoon's acceptance has not been confirmed by Fifa or Yoon herself, according to the available information.