tennis

Brazilian tennis player apologizes for racist gesture in Japan

37 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

37 Comments
Login to comment

Sarapova wasn't fined nor suspended when she openly made racist taunts against Serena. The ITF was swift this time. Does the rule only apply to some kinds of individuals? We've seen it all!

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Anybody that would do what he did during a Professional Tennis Match.... has anger issues and will paying for his emotional outbursts for the rest of his life.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

"Even though I didn't mean any prejudice 

Really? Well he showed it.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Silly man, should have known better. Win or lose, be professional about it.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@mitsuo matsuyama

Then Japanese are xenophobic...The funny thing is that we see many Brazilians making this kind of comment on the net

This news caused a strong reaction from Brazilians, here in Brazil and in Japan, he's been strongly criticized for being disrespectful. His Facebook profile is flooded with words of shame. There are even people asking him to learn how to say "I am deeply sorry" in Japanese.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The ITF is feeble! "condemns any offensive behavior"? $1,500? "Unsportsmanlike"?

Is that the best they can come up with??? How about "condemns racist behavior"? which it is. How about adding a zero and making it $15,000. That will make all these guys really think before they raise their 2 fingers which this guy did to all Asians. The ITF is pathetic.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

How could you say, "I didn't mean prejudice"? He clearly did. He should be banned from the next few tournaments and not just fined. Good on Sugita for beating his arse!

3 ( +5 / -2 )

"Even though I didn't mean any prejudice

The bloke made the slit-eyed gesture as he was angry at Asian officials yet he would like us to believe it wasn't racism/racial stereotyping?!

Deserves a 3-6 month-ban and a bigger fine.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

It was a spur of the moment gesture. But spur of the moment gestures are inculcated and cultivated by the way you're brought up. Let's admit, we've all done something snide in our own lives. $1500 - he got off cheap by today's rates.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Sarapova wasn't fined nor suspended when she openly made racist taunts against Serena.

Where and when did that happen? I can't find anything from a google search.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I still don't think Clezar is a racist. I think he just made a foolish mistake.

If Clezar had made say monkey gestures towards a black ref/judge would you also think it was 'a foolish mistake'? Next you'll tell us it was only banter.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Shouldn't racism be more concerned by what we usually say and how we treat people of other races and ethnicities?

Wouldn't making racist gestures towards people be part of how we treat people of other races and ethnicities?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The Brazilian player clearly made a racist gesture, which can be easily recognized even by ten year old kids, during the professional game and someone still says he BELIEVES the player wasn't being racist or is not a racist. I can't find any logic in his argue. I really can't.

And no one was physically hurt so let it go? REALLY?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Nowadays, people give disclaimer 'I am not racist' 'I am not prejudiced' and then make racist comments. At least accept what you are!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

StormCrow: "Just like when people sometimes say the wrong thing at the wrong time which is followed by a pregnant silence as everybody else is probably thinking, "WTF was that!" "

Yes, like when they show their true selves and make a racist remark. You still haven't said how it was not racist, you're just trying to justify the racism.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

12 month ban for any player making such ignorant gestures. Then they might think twice about doing it again.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

storm crow: "I still don't think Clezar is a racist. I think he just made a foolish mistake."

Tell us how he's not racist, because we can all tell you how he is. Doesn't matter what you THINK he is, what matters is what he did, and what that makes him. He's a racist. Bottom line.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

@Jimizo

I still don't think Clezar is a racist. I think he just made a foolish mistake.

Maybe. I just didn't get your point. You seemed to put forward the idea that making racist gestures isn't part of how we treat people of "other races and ethnicities"

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Sandhonour, Not just towards Asians but nationality/group, ne.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Go to any live raunchy comedy show and i garuntee they will be mocking all the races. No big deal. We should be laughing at each other. That's all this is. A mock. "Poor sport" should be the headline but not in these days of the manufactured MSM agenda.

Is the headline "banter on court" on the crackpot sites?

This is not a near-the-knuckle comedy routine out to make the audience squirm, it's a sport. I like near-the-knuckle comedy which sends the PC crowd into a frenzy but making racist gestures at a sports game isn't the venue for this. It was hardly a witty joke.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

What a complete idiot

0 ( +2 / -2 )

M3M3M3Today  04:19 pm JST

It seems like a clear example of racism in my opinion, perhaps even a textbook case.

Unless I'm reading way too much into it, his gesture seems to be insinuating that Asian people have inferior vision due to their eye shape

Yea I think you're reading way too much into it. Even 3rd graders do this and they have no no concept the mechanics of vision.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@saikophysco

Just because you don't say racist things out loud doesn't mean there's no racism in those thoughts.

I'm not saying that you're a bad person for having those angry thoughts. You're not. You're a good person because you can think rationally after the fact and realize that those thoughts aren't really based in fact and that they're neither helpful nor appropriate to say out loud.

But the fact that people still have angry racist thoughts is because of racism in our society that teaches certain things and subconsciously you still hear them even if you don't consciously believe them. That's not your failing as an individual, but you have to be aware and learn from those moments to realize that you have racist thoughts in your subconscious (like most people do) and you have to work hard to ignore them since you often don't consciously think them.

tl;dr having racist thoughts isn't necessarily the same as "being racist" but still a symptom of racism.

And btw, "venting anger" and racism are definitely not mutually exclusive.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is racism. He was racist.

No one can make fun of physical aspects from someone who were born that way.

I am Japanese descendent and I say, yes I felt offended

Back in Brasil, he could be arrested for being racist.

Unfortunately his opponent would not charge him judiciously here...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Even though I didn't mean any prejudice ... I want to express my regret and my most sincere apology."

..... because I totally forgot about my cousins who wanted to move here.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Give this guy a lifetime ban! Set an example!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Then Japanese are xenophobic...The funny thing is that we see many Brazilians making this kind of comment on the net.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

It seems like a clear example of racism in my opinion, perhaps even a textbook case.

Unless I'm reading way too much into it, his gesture seems to be insinuating that Asian people have inferior vision due to their eye shape and therefore maybe Asian people shouldn't be officiating tennis matches or should be more careful about making calls. This is an old stereotype about Asian vision but one which has been thoroughly debunked in scientific studies. In fact, I believe the exact opposite has been shown to be true and Asians have slightly better peripheral vision on average.

The more interesting (and perhaps controversial) question for me is whether his gesture becomes less racist (or not racist at all) if he genuinely believes the stereotype to be true. In otherwords, if through his own ignorance and stupidity he believes that asian people have poorer eyesight and he sees that they are making incorrect calls at a match which his livelihood depends on, is his frustration understandable? Is ignorance, stupidity, or holding a mistaken belief a defence to what most people would label as racist? I think it has to be to some extent. Whether that's the case here, I obviously can't say.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Not a comedy routine nor a msm conspiracy. Apologists for racism are disqualified from the game.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Was it "racism" or anger vented.... what I mean is... we've all been extremely angry, and when we are we lash out in a way that we think will cause the most damage. Be honest with yourself... how many times have you thought something that you would not actually say? Really.... someone from a different nationality does something that you don't like... what is your first mental reaction. Are you like me.... because, yes, my first reaction is... often enough, pretty vulgar, but... after thinking such a rotten thing, I do feel remorse. The crazy thing is... it all happened in my head. How many of your are like me?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

If someone does something I disagree with, I fault them on that. Not their nationality, race, religion, age, gender, sexuality or ability.

But I am not you. We are all different. But our shared humanity should bind us.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

@Jimizo

I still don't think Clezar is a racist. I think he just made a foolish mistake.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

@smithinjapan

People make mistakes. Just like when people sometimes say the wrong thing at the wrong time which is followed by a pregnant silence as everybody else is probably thinking, "WTF was that!" It's awkward but it does happen from time to time, sometimes more than some people realize. I think we've all met somebody like that at some point in our lives.

Is Clezar a racist? Maybe he is and maybe he isn't. I'm not sure from what I've read here. I would never have done it, but that's me. I would need to spend some time chatting with the guy over a beer and nachos before making any kind of judgment about him.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Boy oh boy! It's not team sports. Competition is high. I can imagine the intensity. But no, let's turn this into a major example of "racism". Wow! Some are so easily led.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Hey Sandhonor,

You seem a little bent out of shape looking for some vengence! Nobody was physically hurt, right?

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

Yes, Clezar made a mistake and it was in poor taste, but should one gesture alone be used to determine if he's indeed a racist?

Japanese sometimes make fun of my so-called long nose. Is this racist? I don't think so. Gestures or remarks about facial or physical features might be a part of racism but not entirely.

Shouldn't racism be more concerned by what we usually say and how we treat people of other races and ethnicities?

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Go to any live raunchy comedy show and i garuntee they will be mocking all the races. No big deal. We should be laughing at each other. That's all this is. A mock. "Poor sport" should be the headline but not in these days of the manufactured MSM agenda.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites