Real Madrid Defender Faces Backlash Over Controversial Social Media Post
Real Madrid player Dean Huijsen has sparked global outrage after sharing a controversial post on social media, leading to widespread criticism from football fans. The incident comes just days after the club dealt with allegations of racist abuse against teammate Vinicius Junior, adding to the scrutiny on the Spanish giants.
Huijsen's Apology and Fan Reactions
The Netherlands-born defender issued an apology via Real Madrid's Weibo account, a popular social media platform in China with over 582 million monthly active users. In his statement, Huijsen expressed regret, saying, "I sincerely APOLOGIZE to my Chinese friends. I previously unintentionally re-posted a reel with content that included offensive messages. It was totally by mistake, and I regret the discomfort it has caused." However, the apology was limited to Weibo and not shared on his Instagram or the club's main accounts, fueling accusations of insincerity.
According to reports from Diario AS, the 20-year-old reposted an image that Chinese users deemed racist for referencing the shape of Asian people's eyes. The content, which has since been deleted, included phrases like "Even the Chinese call him 'Chinese' and 'You could blindfold him with dental floss." This has led to calls from Chinese fans for Huijsen's provisional suspension by Spanish authorities and UEFA.
Global Fan Outcry and Demands for Action
Fans across the world have taken to social media to voice their dissatisfaction with Huijsen's apology and Real Madrid's handling of the situation. Many have labeled the apology as perfunctory and dismissive, arguing that it fails to address the broader issue of racism in football.
- @GZhan57 commented, "Has Huijsen addressed this anywhere outside of Weibo? The repost happened on his Instagram, but the 'apology' is buried only on a Chinese platform in Chinese. No statement on his IG, nothing on the club's main accounts. This feels way too dismissive."
- @insanespotter added, "Apology not accepted. Every time we say Real Madrid players and their fans are the worst when it comes to racism, you all act shocked. Now watch them conveniently disappear from this post."
- @wjl0329 noted, "A perfunctory and insincere apology is unacceptable. Particularly, Real Madrid's tacit approval of this attitude contradicts the club's proclaimed stance on eliminating discrimination, revealing a hypocritical behavior."
Other fans, such as @RFang25900, demanded more concrete actions, stating, "A quote is simply not enough. We don't even know if it really came out from his mouth. We want him to apologize in person and get punishment like the guy in vini's case. If not, this shows how racist and double-standard the club is."
Context of Recent Racism Incidents in Football
This controversy follows closely on the heels of another racism allegation involving Real Madrid. Benfica defender Gianluca Prestianni was recently suspended by UEFA for allegedly racially abusing Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match. The suspension is pending investigation, highlighting the ongoing challenges football faces in combating discrimination.
Real Madrid, a club with a storied history including 20 European Champions titles, has not released an official statement on Huijsen's incident beyond the Weibo apology. This silence has further angered fans, who accuse the club of hypocrisy and failing to uphold its anti-racism commitments.
The backlash underscores a growing demand for accountability and transparency in addressing racism within sports. As incidents like these continue to surface, the pressure on clubs and governing bodies to take decisive action intensifies, with fans calling for suspensions, public apologies, and systemic changes to eradicate discriminatory behavior.
