A Mexican supporter has faced widespread backlash after being filmed making a racist gesture while standing behind a popular South Korean influencer during a World Cup match held in Mexico.
The event unfolded during the World Cup game between South Korea and the Czech Republic.
A Mexican fan has issued a public apology after being observed making a racist gesture in the stands behind a well-known South Korean influencer during a World Cup match in Mexico.
The individual, Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, was recorded pulling the corners of his eyes—a gesture commonly regarded as offensive to East Asians. Yoon Su‐jin, who goes by Ino Cat on social media, shared the clip on Instagram with the caption: "You travelled across the world for the World Cup... And experienced racism..." Numerous Mexicans expressed their disgust at Miramontes' behavior as the video quickly spread across social media platforms.
The video has amassed over 65,000 comments and has been shared and reposted many times. One user remarked: "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."
The South Korean fan captured the incident on video.
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Another commenter 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!"
The backlash intensified over the weekend, prompting Miramontes to release a public statement addressing the incident and confirming that he had resigned from his job.
He stated: "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.
"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."
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The controversy has also reignited discussions about racism in football and whether adequate measures are being implemented to address discriminatory behavior at major international tournaments.
FIFA's anti-discrimination regulations allow for penalties against fans, teams, and national federations, though no action regarding this incident has been announced as of this writing.
South Korea will return to the pitch in the early hours of Friday, facing Mexico at the same venue—the Guadalajara Stadium.