Racist Gesture Backlash
Mexican Trade Chief Removed After Racist World Cup Gesture Sparks Widespread Outcry
Key Points
The gesture occurred during the South Korea vs. Czech Republic match in Guadalajara (Zapopan, Mexico) on June 11, with media noting Yoon “stared at the camera with a tense expression” after noticing the mocking gestures behind her.
A CITGEJ spokesperson told the New York Post that the honor-and-justice process was convened immediately after the incident and that Bernal would be removed: “We immediately convened the Honor and Justice Committee on the day of the incident, and President Bernal will be removed from his position.”
Bernal’s apology post was written in both English and Spanish and included language that he was not trying to defend himself: “I am not here to justify myself… I am here to acknowledge that this situation…”
Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University, publicly urged Bernal to apologise and called on FIFA to “take measures to prevent a recurrence,” with Bernal’s apology coming days after that intervention.
A Mexican engineering guild chief lost his job in under 72 hours after a video caught him making a racist "slant-eye" gesture at a South Korean influencer during a FIFA World Cup match. Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, president of the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of Jalisco (CITGEJ), was removed from his post after footage of him mocking YouTuber Yoon Su-jin went viral, drawing millions of views and condemnation across two continents, according to Sportskeeda.
Yoon, who posts as Incocat_t and has between 6.6 and 9 million followers, was filming herself celebrating South Korea's 2-1 win over the Czech Republic on June 11 at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico. She later posted the clip with the caption: "POV: You traveled across the world for the World Cup… and experienced racism." The video collected over 228,000 likes and 30,000 comments within 23 hours, per Sportskeeda.
Guild Fires Bernal After 72-Hour Social Media Storm
Netizens identified Bernal by June 13 — just two days after the gesture. Pressure quickly shifted to CITGEJ to act. A guild spokesperson told The New York Post: "We immediately convened the Honor and Justice Committee on the day of the incident, and President Bernal will be removed from his position." The College of Civil Engineers of Jalisco, a separate group, also issued a statement to make clear it had no connection to Bernal, according to India's News.
Analysts say CITGEJ moved fast to protect both its professional reputation and Jalisco's image as a World Cup host city, according to Crypto Briefing. Guadalajara is still hosting matches in the 2026 tournament — the first World Cup held across three countries: the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Bernal Issues Dual-Language Apology on Instagram
By June 14, Bernal posted a public apology in both English and Spanish. He wrote: "I am not here to justify myself or to debate different interpretations. I am here to acknowledge that this situation has caused discomfort and to express my most sincere apologies." He directed the apology especially at Yoon, saying he felt he "must take responsibility," per The Mirror.
The apology came shortly after Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women's University publicly called on Bernal to say sorry. Seo also urged FIFA to act, stating: "Such an incident is unacceptable at the World Cup. FIFA should take this incident as a lesson and pay close attention to prevent any recurrence," according to AOL.
This Is Not the First World Cup Slant-Eye Gesture
This is not an isolated case. In 2018, two Telemundo hosts were caught on camera making the same type of gesture after South Korea knocked Germany out of the World Cup. Both hosts were suspended indefinitely. Despite FIFA's "No to Racism" campaign and its own code of conduct rules, the gesture has now appeared at two consecutive tournaments, per Sportskeeda.
Anti-discrimination experts call it "casual racism" — acts the person making them sees as a joke, but which carry real weight for the target. Many South Korean users online said the apology showed accountability. Many Mexican users reacted with shame. Comments like "I'm ashamed to be the same Mexican" dominated local social media threads, according to India's News.
FIFA Faces Calls to Ban Racist Fans from Stadiums
The incident has sparked a wider debate about what FIFA should do next. Critics say fining national federations is not enough. They want FIFA to ban individual fans caught in viral racist footage from all future matches. Guadalajara officials have also stepped up "hospitality training" for stadium staff to protect the city's reputation for the rest of the tournament, per Crypto Briefing.
At the time of the incident, both Mexico and South Korea sat at the top of Group A with 3 points each. The story has now grown beyond the result on the pitch. It has become one of the defining off-field moments of the 2026 World Cup's opening days, per The Mirror.
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