Spanish newspaper denounced after Barcelona's Ansu Fati compared to 'young black street seller'
A Spanish newspaper has issued an apology to Barcelona forward Ansu Fati after a reporter likened the teenager to a “black street seller” running from the police.
Antoine Griezmann, Fati’s Barcelona team-mate, had earlier highlighted the report and said that the 17-year-old “deserves respect like any human being”. The forward has also been publicly supported by Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, who was referenced in the article.
Fati is seen as one of the most exciting talents in the European game and he was impressive again for Barcelona in their 5-1 victory over Ferencvaros on Tuesday.
The ABC report, written by journalist Salvador Sostres, said: “Ansu in full flight has something of a gazelle about him, of a very young, black street seller that you suddenly see running along Paseo de Gracia when someone shouting ‘water, water’ announced that the local police have arrived.
“Now this kind of thing does not happen, because, for Ada Colau, the criminals are the police and not the street sellers, who no longer have to run away. It is also true that without tourists, business is rather weak.”
In a statement on Thursday, Sostres said: “As I attempted to highlight the beauty of Ansu’s movement, and his class as a young player, some expressions were interpreted as racial discrimination.
“That could not be further from my intentions, or opinions, which are very favourable towards the player, as I have always expressed in my match reports since he made his debut. I deeply apologise for the misunderstanding and to those who may have been offended.”
In response to the original article, Griezmann wrote: “Ansu is an exceptional boy who deserves respect like any other human being. No to racism and no to bad manners."
Colau called for the newspaper to “rectify your racism”, adding: “All my support to Ansu Fati and to all the young, anonymous people who fall under this characterisation or stigma due to the colour of their skin.”
