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Racism and other prejudice
SportFootball

Barcelona sponsor Rakuten blasts Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele discriminatory comments as ‘unacceptable’

  • Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani says shirt sponsor has made formal protest to La Liga club over player comments
  • Pair apologise on Monday but club remains silent over controversial videos filmed on Japanese tour in 2019

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FC Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann looks dejected after a La Liga match against Granada in April, 2021. Photo: Reuters
Jonathan White

The CEO of FC Barcelona’s sponsor, Rakuten, has expressed his disappointment at the behaviour of star players Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele while on a tour to Japan in 2019, calling their comments “unacceptable”.

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Both Griezmann and Dembele, who were at Euro 2020 with France until the world champions were knocked out by Switzerland in the round of 16, were recorded making discriminatory remarks on the club tour, with the videos recently shared on social media.

Hiroshi Mikitani, the chief executive of e-commerce giant Rakuten, spoke out against the pair on Twitter on Tuesday.

“As a club sponsor and tour organiser, I am very sorry that the FCB (Barcelona) players made discriminatory remarks,” Mikitani wrote.

Rakuten president and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani shakes hands with FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu after signing a contract as main sponsor in 2016. Photo: Reuters
Rakuten president and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani shakes hands with FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu after signing a contract as main sponsor in 2016. Photo: Reuters
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“Since Rakuten has endorsed Barça’s philosophy and sponsored the club, such statements are unacceptable under any circumstances and will formally protest the club and seek their views.”

La Liga giants Barcelona are yet to comment on the videos, though there have been reports that Griezmann has apologised to Mikitani and that Dembele is expected to do so.

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