Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes made a racist gesture behind South Korean influencer Yoon Su-jin during a World Cup match, leading to his removal as president of an engineering guild and widespread online backlash.
A Mexican World Cup fan is looking for a new job after a video of him making a racist gesture behind a South Korea n influencer sparked backlash online.
Footage shows Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes pulling the corners of his eyes while seated behind Yoon Su-jin during the match between South Korea and the Czech Republic. He then laughs to himself as the woman waves to the camera. The gesture is widely regarded as a racist stereotype aimed at East Asians. The incident sparked outrage online, with many Mexicans expressing their disgust at his actions.
Bernal later apologised and reports say he has been removed from his position as president of a Mexican engineering guild. Yoon Su-jin shared the clip on Instagram with the caption: 'You traveled across the world for the World Cup… and experienced racism…' The match, held in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, saw South Korea come from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1. Yoon's clip drew outrage among fellow users, drawing 65,000 comments.
It has also been shared or reposted at least 120,000 times.
'Ugh so terrible. And then he laughs like he cracked the best joke,' read one of the comments. Many users who identified themselves as Mexican also apologised for Bernal's actions, adding that he 'doesn't represent all Mexicans'. Yoon, also known online as Ino Cat, has 6.6 million followers on YouTube and more than 2 million on TikTok.
Bernal was later removed from his position as president of the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of Jalisco following the uproar (CITGEJ), according to the New York Post, which spoke to a CITGEJ spokesperson. In a public apology posted on Sunday, Bernal acknowledged that the video had circulated widely and 'generated a wide range of reactions'.
'For that reason, I believe it is important to offer a public apology,' he wrote. 'I sincerely regret everything this situation has caused. I have taken time to reflect on what happened and I understand the responsibility I have in this moment,' he wrote, adding that he did not wish to 'justify'.
'Throughout my personal and professional life, I have always tried to treat others with respect, and I will continue working to ensure that my actions consistently reflect those values,' he wrote. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about racism in football and international events. Experts note that while the World Cup brings together people from diverse backgrounds, it can also expose deep-seated prejudices. Many fans have called for stricter penalties for racist behavior at sporting events.
The South Korean influencer Yoon Su-jin has not publicly commented further, but her initial post has been viewed millions of times. The video serves as a reminder that racism remains a global issue, even in celebratory environments like the World Cup. In response, Mexican authorities and fan groups have condemned the gesture and urged education on cultural sensitivity. Some have proposed requiring diversity training for public figures and fans attending international matches.
The engineering guild from which Bernal was removed has not announced any further actions. Meanwhile, Bernal's apology has been met with mixed reactions; some accept it as sincere, while others believe it does not undo the harm caused. The incident continues to be a topic of discussion on social media, with hashtags in Spanish and Korean trending
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