Antoine Griezmann has found himself in hot water after a controversial video emerged of himself and Barcelona teammate Ousmane Dembele taken in 2019.
In the video, the pair are seen mocking the Japanese hotel staff during their pre-season tour in 2019, and their actions have been interpreted as a racist incident.
Whilst both players have apologised for the incident, the fury that is has created shows no signs of easing.
Shortly after the video emerged, Konami cancelled their contract with Griezmann, who had only recently signed an agreement to be an ambassador for their brand. Konami are also one of Barcelona‘s key sponsors, with the club having been an exclusive partner in their Pro Evolution Soccer video games for a number of years, and they will be eager to find out the measures that the club will take in response.
El video por el que acusan a Griezmann y Dembl de racismo
Rakuten’s anger
The gravity of the situation with Konami pales in comparison to that of Barcelona‘s main sponsor, Rakuten.
This brand organised that pre-season tour in 2019, and have provided Barcelona with a vital source of income during an incredibly difficult financial period for the club.
Barcelona have also issued an apology on their official website in Japanese, in which they have ensured that they will take “the necessary internal measures” to deal with this issue.
