Argentina men’s volleyball team under fire for ‘slant-eyed’ gesture during celebratory group photo shot
- Several members of the South American team make the offensive gesture after beating China and qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics
- Argentina star player Facundo Conte, who plays for professional club Shanghai, are among the players whose racist behaviour has angered netizens
The Argentina men’s volleyball team have been accused of racism after making “slant-eyed” gestures as they celebrated qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in a group photo in China.
After defeating the hosts in five sets in a pool F match played in Ningbo over the weekend, some players from the victorious South American squad used their fingers to lengthen their eyes, insulting Chinese and Asian netizens who disapproved of what they deemed was racist behaviour.
The Argentine players who made the offensive gesture included the team’s star spiker, Facundo Conte, the 2015 Pan American games gold medallist, who also plies his trade at Chinese club Shanghai Golden Age. The 29-year-old Conte, an outside hitter, uploaded a photo of his teams’ celebration, without the rude gesture, in his Instagram account.
Conte’s insensitive action and that of his teammates angered Chinese netizens who flooded the Argentine’s Instagram account with negative comments.
“Never come to any Asian country again, shame on u,” said carlsong083 of Conte’s posting which has received more than 11,000 likes.
“They think they are superior and discriminate this person and that person,” said 1314lizhenming1314.