Dean Huijsen apologises for racially offensive social media post
Dean Huijsen, the 20-year-old Spain international who gained recognition during an impressive Premier League season with Bournemouth before his transfer to Real Madrid, has issued an apology following the sharing of racially offensive material on social media, reports BritPanorama.
The defender reposted content on his Instagram account, which has 5.2 million followers, that Chinese users condemned as racist towards the Asian community.
“I sincerely apologise to my Chinese friends,” the statement read. “I previously forwarded content that included offensive messages unintentionally. It was completely unintentional, and I regret the distress caused.”
The apology was made exclusively on the Spanish club’s official Weibo account and arose from a now-deleted post featuring an image of an Asian individual alongside deeply offensive remarks from internet users.
One comment stated, “even the Chinese call him Chinese,” while another remark read, “you could blindfold him with dental floss” — a crude reference to the shape of Asian people’s eyes. The screenshot shared by Huijsen drew immediate condemnation, branding the content racist.
The Dutch-Spanish defender has since removed the material from his profile, although the impact on his reputation at the Bernabéu appears considerable as the controversy continues to unfold.
Chinese supporters have expressed significant dissatisfaction with how the club has handled the incident. Critics highlighted that the statement appeared solely on Weibo, targeting the Chinese market, while remaining conspicuously absent from Huijsen’s personal accounts and Real Madrid’s global platforms.
The club’s Instagram following stands at 181 million, with an additional 49 million on X — yet neither platform has acknowledged the incident. Fans are now calling for a worldwide apology or video statement, questioning whether the remorse shown represents genuine contrition or simply aims to protect the club’s substantial commercial interests in the region.
The incident has drawn pointed criticism from supporters, who note an apparent inconsistency in the club’s approach to discrimination. One fan remarked, “While Real Madrid is speaking out against racism, Huijsen is making racist remarks against Chinese people. Why hasn’t the club responded? Does your anti-racism stance only apply when Vinicius Jr is the one being discriminated against?”
This controversy emerges as UEFA investigates allegations of racist abuse directed at Vinícius Júnior by Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni during a recent Champions League encounter.
As the dialogue surrounding race and responsibility in football intensifies, this latest incident underscores the ongoing challenges clubs face in addressing discrimination and maintaining their global influence. The reactions to Huijsen’s post reflect a broader expectation for accountability, both from players and the institutions that represent them.
