Look! More cultural cluelessness from Brazil! The New York Daily News reported on FC Santos preparing for the upcoming 2011 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan by having players pose slit-eyed for a promotion. The move is barely original, last executed by Spain’s 2008 Olympic basketball teams.
Neymar and Santos teammates pose ‘slit-eyed’ for ad promoting FIFA Club World Cup in Japan
By Jaime Uribarri
Fresh off their first Copa Libertadores title in nearly 50 years, FC Santos are looking to make history yet again in December during the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
The storied Brazilian franchise is going all out in preparation for the event that brings together the champion clubs from all six continental confederations, and has even launched a website and promotional campaign to celebrate the competition. Pretty standard stuff, except for one questionable photo.
The image features four Santos players — including star forward Neymar up front and center — slanting their eyes in front of the Japanese Rising Sun flag painted in the team’s black and white colors. This crass reference to the tournament host nation (and its people’s physical appearance) is bound to generate controversy, if a similar picture from three years ago is any indication.
Prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Spanish basketball team sparked outrage among the Asian community after posing slit-eyed for a full-page ad that appeared in the country’s most popular sports daily, Marca. Accusations of racism from groups such as the Organization of Chinese Americans soon followed, which forced Spain’s Pau Gasol to publicly apologize on behalf of his team.
If and when Santos’ borderline racist marketing campaign gets picked up by the same advocacy groups, be sure to expect more negative backlash.
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