Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann, both of Barcelona and France, have been embroiled in a major racism controversy after appearing to disparage Asian employees in a video that has gone viral. The duo can be seen mocking local technicians while attempting to repair a television in their hotel room in the video. However, the video’s origins are unknown.
The story follows France’s loss in a penalty shootout against Switzerland in the Round of 16 and claims of severe internal strife within Didier Deschamps squad including Kylian Mbappe, Adrien Rabiot, and Griezmann.
Dembele is seen using a social media app to record the men at work ( Snapchat). “All these ugly faces, just so you can play PES (Pro Evolution Soccer), aren’t you ashamed?” Dembele tells Griezmann in the video.
“What kind of backward language is that?” and “Are you technologically advanced in your country or not?” he later adds. Although Griezmann’s words are not clear, the Barcelona striker can be heard laughing throughout the video.
❗️Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembélé, in leaked video, appear to be mocking asian technicians in their hotel room who came to fix a technological issue, proceed to mock their looks, language and country's supposed "technological advance". pic.twitter.com/9fiBtyZxej
— +Barça (@plusbarca_) July 3, 2021
The attacking duo was part of France’s Euro 2020 squad, but the footage was likely taken a few years ago. Griezmann’s hairstyle, in particular, shows the footage isn’t from the Euros, and reports believe it’s from Barcelona’s pre-season visit to Asia in 2019.
Barcelona, by the way, has been sponsored by Rakuten, a Japanese retail behemoth, since 2016. The footage has also prompted uproar on social media, with the hashtag #StopAsianHate trending. The French Football Federation has been urged to issue a statement and take quick action.
