Tennis player fined $1,500 for ‘racist’ gesture News

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Tennis player fined $1,500 for ‘racist’ gesture

By News Express on September 17, 2017

Brazilian player Guilherme Clezar was fined $1,500 by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Saturday for making what appeared to be a slit-eyed gesture in a Davis Cup tie in Japan.

The 24-year-old had earlier issued an apology but denied any racist intent following an incident during his defeat by Yuichi Sugita on Friday in Brazil’s world group playoff against the hosts in Osaka.

After successfully challenging a line call in the third-set tiebreak, an exasperated Clezar stretched his eyes in an apparent criticism of the line judge who made the ball call.

The gesture was caught on local television and the ITF has subsequently decided to hand down the fine for “unsportsmanlike conduct” after the footage was reviewed by the tie referee.

The player insisted he had not meant to insult Japanese people in a post on the Brazilian tennis federation’s Facebook page. “I want to underline that I never had the slightest intention to be aggressive, racist, prejudiced or anything of the type against Asian people,” said Clezar, who lost the opening rubber 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 before Brazil fell 2-0 down in the tie.

“We have been extremely well received here and I have an excellent relationship with all tennis players from many different countries on the circuit,” he added. (Vanguard)

•Photo shows Guilherme Clezar.

Source News Express

Posted September 17, 2017