Barcelona has apologized for the latest video by Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann that seemed to show the couple mocking Asian hotel staff.
The clip was recorded as early as 2019 before the club’s pre-season tour of Japan, but only recently appeared on the club’s YouTube channel and then social media.
Antoine Griezmann has apologized for her part in the video / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
The couple could be seen laughing at a group of Asian hotel staff who seemed to be trying to fix a TV, but both players have since apologized and claimed there was no racial explanation behind their joke.
Barcelona have now commented on the incident and are taking to their official website to release a statement apologizing to anyone who may have been offended by the video, adding that they reserve the right to take internal action against Dembele and Griezmann.
FC Barcelona deeply regrets the dissatisfaction among Japanese and Asian fans and partners in our club caused by a video shown a few days ago on social media where two first team players (Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann) showed a lack of respect in their attitude towards several employees at the hotel where they lived, ”the statement said.
“This attitude does not coincide with the values that FC Barcelona represents and defends.
“The values of the club and its sponsors should be something that FC Barcelona protects, and this belief exists at all levels of the organization, from the board and managers to players in the club’s various sports teams.
“The club is committed to improving its education in matters of race, discrimination and diversity. At FC Barcelona there is no place for racism or discrimination.
Ousmane Dembele can be seen laughing in the video / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
FC Barcelona would like to publicly apologize to all the club’s fans and partners who feel dissatisfied with this event from the summer of 2019, a time when the club’s responsibility fell on board members and executive teams before the current one.
“The board that currently leads the club is committed to ensuring that episodes of this type do not repeat themselves.
“The players have already shown their remorse and apologize to Japanese fans and partners, something that the club values. Nevertheless, FC Barcelona reserves the right to take the internal measures it deems appropriate.”
