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Jonathan White

Japanese video game manufacturer Konami has sacked Barcelona striker Antoine Griezmann as a brand ambassador after controversial videos emerged of him and teammate Ousmane Dembele during a club tour to Japan in 2019.
The company also followed the lead of Barcelona’s main sponsor, Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, in asking the club to explain the incidents involving the players on the club tour.
Konami announced the decision on their Japanese website today only a month after Griezmann was named as an ambassador for their Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card games.
“Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. believes that no discrimination is tolerated, as is the philosophy of sports,” it read.




















View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Yu-Gi-Oh! Card Game KONAMI EU (@yugiohcardeu)



“Yu-Gi-Oh! Content has decided to cancel the ambassador contract with Griezmann.
“In soccer content, we will ask FC Barcelona as a club partner to explain the details of this matter and future measures.”
Barcelona sponsor blasts ‘unacceptable’ comments from Griezmann and Dembele
Barcelona and Konami became partners in 2016, with the La Liga side exclusively appearing in Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer video game series.
That deal was extended for three more years in 2019, with Konami also becoming the club’s official esports soccer video gaming partner.
The renamed eFootball PES 2020 edition of the game featured Barcelona’s Lionel Messi on the cover, following in the footsteps of teammates Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho on the previous two versions.


This year’s eFootball PES 2021 update saw a special Barcelona edition released with fans voting for which players would grace the cover.
Messi and teammates Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Suarez and Griezmann were on the cover but the Uruguayan, who left last summer, and the Frenchman have since been replaced on branding on the Konami website.
The first video to be leaked featured Dembele and Griezmann in a hotel room as the former, who also filmed the clip, mocked workers attempting to fix their television.
Dembele ‘apologises’ for video abusing Japanese hotel workers
Dembele appears to say to Griezmann: “All these ugly faces, just so you can play PES [Pro Evolution Soccer], aren’t you ashamed?”
France international Griezmann was only announced as a Yu-Gi-Oh! ambassador on June 6, a week ahead of Euro 2020. At the time Konami said that a special card, inspired by the footballer, would be released later this year.
Both Dembele and Griezmann have issued apologies on social media, though many fans have crticised them for not going far enough.


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Spanish La Liga

Konami sack Antoine Griezmann as Yu-Gi-Oh! ambassador, Barcelona asked for answers

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring against Napoli in the Uefa Champions League in 2020. Photo: Reuters

Barcelona sponsor Rakuten blasts Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele discriminatory comments as ‘unacceptable’

FC Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann looks dejected after a La Liga match against Granada in April, 2021. Photo: Reuters

FC Barcelona's President Josep Maria Bartomeu (L) and Rakuten's President and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani shake hands after signing a contract as main sponsor for FC Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain November 16, 2016. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann faces fresh racism accusations after second Asian tour video emerges

France’s Antoine Griezmann warming up before the Euro 2020 knockout game against Switzerland. Photo: Reuters

Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele ‘apologises’ for video abusing Japanese hotel workers

Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele reacts during the 2019-20 Uefa Champions League group stage match against former club Borussia Dortmund at the Camp Nou Stadium in November 2019. Photo: DPA

Euro 2020 star Ousmane Dembele in race storm for mocking Asian hotel workers in video with Antoine Griezmann

France’s Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele seen after a goal during the Uefa Euro 2020 match against Hungary in Budapest. Photo: EPA

Antoine Griezmann dressed up in blackface

Sport

Football


Japanese video game giant and club’s official esports soccer video gaming partner drops France striker from Yu-Gi-Oh! after a month
Shirt sponsor Rakuten has also asked La Liga side to explain controversial videos from 2019 tour to Japan



Japanese video game giant and club’s official esports soccer video gaming partner drops France striker from Yu-Gi-Oh! after a month


Anti-Asian racism

Racism and other prejudice

Esports

Video gaming