In the midst of a social media storm, Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has come to the defense of his teammate, Alejandro Garnacho. Garnacho had posted a message on social media, which drew criticism for its use of gorilla emojis. However, Onana has stepped in to clarify the situation.
On his Instagram account, Onana stated, “People cannot choose what I should be offended by. I know exactly what Garnacho meant: power & strength. This matter should go no further.” The controversy stemmed from a post in which Garnacho used gorilla emojis alongside a picture of Onana and his teammates celebrating a dramatic penalty save.
Upon realizing the potential racial connotations of the post, Garnacho edited and eventually deleted it. However, the Football Association (FA) has contacted the young winger for his observations on the issue, leaving the possibility of a sanction looming.
The FA has a history of taking action against racially sensitive posts by footballers, and the outcome for Garnacho remains uncertain. Onana’s support and plea for the matter to be put to rest may influence the FA’s decision. The incident raises questions about the fine line between freedom of expression and the responsibility of athletes on social media.
