MALLORCA fitness coach Dani Pastor was accused of using a racist gesture to call Japanese midfielder Takefusa Kubo back from his warm-up on Sunday.
During the LaLiga side’s match at Espanyol, an injury to Salva Sevilla required a substitution and Kubo was the man called up.
Pastor appeared to be trying to get a player’s attentionCredit: LaLiga TV
The fitness coach pulled his eyes into what looked like a slant-eyed gestureCredit: LaLiga TV
TV footage picked up the moment Pastor hopped off the bench and looked down the touchline at the Mallorca players warming up.
It appeared as though he whistled before making a slant-eyed gesture.
Some viewers drew the conclusion that he was doing so to catch Kubo’s attention, as he raised a hand to wave him back a moment later.
However Pastor’s action is yet to be explained by the club or coach and it is not yet certain that he was deliberately making the gesture.
Indeed, Kubo did come on for Mallorca teammate Sevilla in the 65th minute of the 1-0 defeat at Espanyol.
The Japan international, 18, is on loan at the island club from Real Madrid.
He is just the 11th player from the Asian nation to feature in the Spanish top-flight, with only Eibar’s Takashi Inui for present company.
So far this campaign, Kubo’s first in LaLiga, the teenager has appeared 21 times and scored once.
Kubo is on loan at Mallorca from Real MadridCredit: Getty Images – Getty
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
