At a time when racist incidents in football are rising, a recent tweet by Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has sparked a heated debate on racism.
On Sunday, the Portuguese sportsman tweeted a now deleted photo comparing his teammate Benjamin Mendy with a black cartoon mascot for Spanish sweet brand Conguitos.
@VJajuha @LeroySaneLoyal @BernardoCSilva https://t.co/DezeyAbgBK— Figo (@Figo) 1569156182
While his manager Pep Guardiola intervened on Tuesday to defend his player, insisting the tweet was "not about the colour of the skin" and saying the images were “quite similar”, the FA were deciding whether he would receive a potential six-match ban for his actions.
Elsewhere, the debate was similarly divided.
Some fans maintained that Silva's tweet had been a harmless joke with a close friend, citing the fact that Mendy had responded with laughing emojis.
And it wasn't the first time Silva had publicly made jokes based on the colour of Mendy's skin.
@BernardoCSilva When the topic is relentlessly about someones skin colour its no longer a joke. https://t.co/Y90PSh5BRo— BLACK PRINCE HARRY 🇸🇱🇳🇬 (@BLACK PRINCE HARRY 🇸🇱🇳🇬) 1569159339
Others pointed to the fact that the Conguitos mascot has deeply colonial overtones, and said as a role model, Silva should have known better.
As reported by The Times, Youngstown State University professor Diana Palardy, described the original cartoon as:
A small, naked, pot-bellied, spear-bearing African native with enormous lips.
Palardy noted the demeaning nature of the popular international brand's first commercials.
[It featured] tiny warriors marching across the screen, set against the backdrop of a jungle and exotic music, while a large white hand whisks them away, one by one.
When the black leader realises all of his troops have vanished, he shouts out the last name of the first democratically elected Congolese prime minister, drops his spear, runs away, trips over a rock, rolls, and morphs into a Conguito candy, which is then devoured with delight by a white Spanish woman.
Against this backdrop, many on social media criticised the initial tweet and Guardiola's reaction.
This is shameful from Pep Guardiola on Bernardo Silva’s tweet: "The image is not about the colour of the skin. He t… https://t.co/NYJSgk0zEU— Jacob Steinberg (@Jacob Steinberg) 1569390595
Guardiola's got it all wrong on Bernardo Silva. It's got nothing to do with whether or not he's a great bloke or wh… https://t.co/yy0b8iHTQj— Matt Law (@Matt Law) 1569398777
However, others felt the discussion was demeaning the debate on more insidious manifestations of racism.
Guardiola's got it all wrong on Bernardo Silva. It's got nothing to do with whether or not he's a great bloke or wh… https://t.co/yy0b8iHTQj— Matt Law (@Matt Law) 1569398777
There were, of course, the usual suspects spouting the "reverse racism" defence.
@R_o_M It's totally weird, mate, and it's on the rise. I was told recently by someone I like that 'white people get… https://t.co/h5U1hQrexy— Rob Blanchette (@Rob Blanchette) 1569266466
Anti-racism campaigners Kick it Out said:
We are extremely disappointed to see the tweet posted by Bernardo Silva, which has since been deleted.
Racist stereotypes are never acceptable as ‘banter’, and we’re shocked that someone who is a role model to millions has failed to understand the discriminatory nature of his post.
But Silva doubled down on his tweet.
Can’t even joke with a friend these days... You guys... 🤦🏻♂️— Bernardo Silva (@Bernardo Silva) 1569155470
It didn't go down so well with many.
@BernardoCSilva jokes are supposed to be funny— ㅋㅇ (@ㅋㅇ) 1569158569
@BernardoCSilva Still waiting for the apology mate 👍— Elis 🏴 (@Elis 🏴) 1569158449