Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, a Mexican man, was recorded pulling the corners of his eyes in a racist gesture during the World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic on September 1, 2026 [1]. The video was posted online by South Korean content creator Yoon Su-jin, also known as Ino Cat, who commented, "You traveled across the world for the World Cup… and experienced racism... [1]." She also captioned the post, "POV: When you experienced racism at the World Cup" [2].
The gesture is widely recognized as a racist and derogatory caricature targeting East Asians [1, 2]. The video quickly sparked significant outrage on social media, attracting over 65,000 comments and more than 120,000 shares, according to BBC data [1]. Many Mexican commenters expressed regret and apologized on Bernal’s behalf, stating he does not represent the views of all Mexicans [1, 2].
Bernal issued a public apology on September 3, stating, "I sincerely regret everything this situation has caused. I have taken time to reflect on what happened and I understand the responsibility I have in this moment. Throughout my personal and professional life, I have always tried to treat others with respect, and I will continue working to ensure that my actions consistently reflect those values" [1].
Following the backlash, Bernal left his role as president of the College of Geomatics and Topographic Surveying Engineers of Jalisco (CITGEJ). Sources differ on whether he resigned voluntarily or was removed, with one outlet reporting removal and another indicating he resigned after the video went viral [1, 2].
The incident has drawn renewed attention to intolerance issues at international sporting events. Bernal’s departure from the engineering guild was confirmed by September 3 [1, 2].
