Real Madrid apologise to Chinese fans on behalf of defender after sharing racist memes
Real Madrid have emitted an apology to their Chinese following, after Dean Huijsen shared racist memes on social media over the weekend. Huijsen himself is yet to address the matter personally.
The 20-year-old reposted an image of a Chinese man with the caption ‘Even the Chinese call him Chinese’, and ‘You could blindfold him with dental floss’. Huijsen’s activity caused outrage among the Chinese and Asian community online.
Real Madrid issue apology to Chinese fans
Image via Lars Baron/Getty Images
On Monday, Real Madrid published the following apology on behalf of Huijsen on their Weibo account say Diario AS, the largest Chinese social media platform.
“I sincerely apologise to my Chinese friends. I previously forwarded content that included offensive messages unintentionally. It was entirely unintentional, and I regret any distress caused.”
Los Blancos have yet issue the same apology on their other social media channels, and Huijsen has not referenced the matter on his personal social media accounts either. This is the second time that Real Madrid’s image has taken a hit in China in the last two years, after a fan impersonated Chinese fans back in 2024. The club were subsequently contacted by the Chinese embassy regarding the incident, and issued an apology on that occasion too.
Incident comes just days after anti-racism protocol
The timing could hardly be worse, as Real Madrid try to make a stand against racism on an international stage, after the anti-racism protocol was activated during their clash with Benfica for alleged racist abuse towards Vinicius Junior. On Monday, UEFA provisionally suspended the accused Gianluca Prestianni – who has defended his innocence – for the return leg of their Champions League tie with Real Madrid. If Prestianni is found guilty, then he will face a minimum ban of 10 games. It is not clear yet when UEFA’s investigation will be concluded.
Dodgers' Vesia Returns to Mound After Daughter's Death
Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia made his first spring training start on Feb. 23, returning to the mound after the tragic loss of his newborn daughter, Sterling Sole, during the postseason. The left‑hander, who missed the NLCS and playoffs, was back in action with a 1‑2‑3 inning and a strikeout.
Vesia said the return felt overwhelming but he wants to enjoy pitching again. He credits therapy and teammates for helping him process the grief, describing the support as a blessing and expressing gratitude for his "brothers" on the team.
BC Lions Set Up Camp in Kelowna
The BC Lions football franchise has announced they will be calling Kelowna home for a week of football activities. The team will be engaging with the local community through various events during their stay.
Details about specific events and schedules have not yet been released, but the Lions' presence in Kelowna is expected to generate excitement among local football fans.