Manchester United player Alejandro Garnacho recently faced criticism for a social media post that included emojis that some might consider offensive. In response to the controversy, his team-mate Andre Onana has come to his defense, stating that individuals should not dictate what he finds offensive and explaining his interpretation of the post.
Onana took to Instagram to express his support for Garnacho, saying, “People cannot choose what I should be offended by. I know exactly what [Garnacho] meant: Power and strength. This matter should go no further.”
Manchester United, when approached for comment, referred to Onana’s statement.
This incident brings to mind previous cases involving football players and social media posts. In 2020, former Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani received a three-match ban and a £100,000 fine for using a racially offensive term in a post. Similarly, in a previous year, Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva was fined £50,000 and suspended for one match for a tweet that was perceived as racially insensitive. Silva received support from his teammate Benjamin Mendy during the FA’s investigation into the matter.