YouTuber targeted by racist gesture at World Cup says she 'was scared'

Lee No-nyang, a content creator whose real name is Yoon Su-jin, said she "was scared" during the incident at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup in which a Mexican spectator directed a slant-eye gesture at her during the South Korea-Czech Republic match.

In an interview with the BBC on Sunday, Lee said, "Honestly, I think I was quite frightened at the time," adding that while her Instagram Reel showed the gesture only once, the man had actually done it multiple times.

Lee had been filming a selfie video while watching the Group A first-round match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico on June 12, when a Mexican man seated behind her made the slant-eye gesture. She posted the clip online, writing, "I'm not sure if I'm being too sensitive — please take a look."

The slant-eye gesture is widely recognized as a racist act targeting people of Asian descent. The video spread rapidly online, sparking widespread controversy, and the man's identity was soon revealed.

He was identified as Ulises Fernando Bernal Miramontes, president of the Jalisco State Association of Civil, Topographic, Geometric and Engineering Professionals (CITGEJ). As the backlash grew, Miramontes posted a video apology and resigned from his position as association president.

Describing the moment, Lee said she was "an Asian girl sitting alone among Mexican fans watching the match," and that she was the only woman around her. "Because I was alone, I was afraid things might escalate, so I stayed quiet and didn't do anything," she said.

FIFA said it would take strong action against the perpetrator, including banning his World Cup ticketing account.

Alongside this, FIFA invited Lee to attend the South Korea-Mexico match on June 19. In a statement, FIFA said the match day coincided with the International Day Against Hate Speech and that it planned to deliver "a message of inclusion and respect" together with Yoon.

Lee said some people might see such gestures on Reels or Shorts and imitate them for fun without thinking twice. "But this is something that genuinely hurts people," she said. "Given the long history of problems caused by racial discrimination, I hope more people come to understand why this is harmful."

월드컵서 ‘인종차별’ 당한 인플루언서, FIFA 초청으로 한국-멕시코전 간다

https://biz.heraldcorp.com/article/10773740