A Mexican football supporter has publicly apologised after being filmed making a racist gesture during a World Cup match in Mexico, leading to his resignation from his job.
Incident at Guadalajara Stadium
The incident occurred during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium last week. Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes was caught on camera pulling the corners of his eyes, a gesture widely recognised as disrespectful to East Asians, while standing behind popular South Korean influencer Yoon Su‑jin, known as Ino Cat on social media.
Yoon shared the clip on Instagram with the caption: "You travelled across the world for the World Cup… And experienced racism..." The video quickly spread across social media, drawing more than 65,000 comments and being shared numerous times.
Public Reaction
Many Mexicans expressed disgust at Miramontes' actions. 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!"
Apology and Resignation
Facing growing backlash, Miramontes issued a public statement addressing the incident, confirming that he had resigned from his job at the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of Jalisco (CITGEJ). 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 continued: "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 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."
Broader Debate on Racism in Football
The controversy has reignited debate around racism in football and whether enough is being done to tackle discriminatory behaviour at major international tournaments. FIFA's anti‑discrimination regulations allow for sanctions against supporters, teams and national federations, although no action relating to this incident has been announced at the time of writing.
South Korea return to action in the early hours of Friday, facing Mexico at the same venue - the Guadalajara Stadium.
