BARCELONA forward Raphinha has accused Disneyland Paris of racism after a mascot ignored his son but hugged all the other children, he claimed.
A furious social media post from the Brazil star slammed staff as “disgraceful”, alongside a video apparently showing his two-year-old, Gael, being ignored.
InstagramRaphina’s two-year-old son Gael missed out on a hug from the mascot as Disneyland Paris[/caption]
InstagramThe two-year-old was even held up to try and catch the mascot’s attention[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialRaphinha was furious over the episode and shared footage of it on social media[/caption]
Footage shared on his Instagram story yesterday shows several children being embraced by the cuddly squirrel mascot.
Gael, standing waiting in a red tracksuit, gestures for a hug as well – but the mascot stands up.
Another clip shows the tot patting the mascot’s leg in an attempt to get their attention.
A later clip shows an adult carrying the boy alongside the mascot at chest height as they walk off – but still no hug comes.
Raphinha thundered: “Your employees are a disgrace.
“You shouldn’t treat people like that, especially a CHILD.
“You’re supposed to make children happy, not snub a child.
“I prefer to say it was snubbing, to say nothing else. You’re a disgrace.”
Suggesting that race was a factor in his kid’s upset, he wrote: “I understand the fatigue of those who work with this, but why were all the white children embraced and my son wasn’t?”
Hammering his message home, Raphinha added: “I hate you, Disneyland.
“He just wanted a hello and a hug. Lucky for you, he doesn’t get it. That employee is s****y.”
Disneyland Paris has not issued an official response to the allegations.
The Sun has contacted Disneyland Paris for comment.
Raphinha didn’t accompany his son to the theme park – but was instead on international duty back home, thousands of miles away.
He started in Brazil‘s 3-0 World Cup qualifier victory over Chile at the Maracana stadium in Rio.
InstagramThe adorable tot repeatedly tried to get a hug from the mascot[/caption]
AFPRaphina suggested that race had played a role in his son’s apparent snub[/caption]
GettyRaphina was back home in Brazil for international duty[/caption]
The forward is also expected to make an appearance against Bolivia in El Alto on Wednesday before heading back to Barcelona ahead of their clash with Valencia.
Raphinha was been vocal about facing racism throughout his career.
During a match in 2023, he unveiled an undershirt printed with the message: “Whilst the colour of skin is more important than the colour of eyes, there will be war.”
The powerful gesture was a show of support for his Brazil teammate and Real Madrid star, Vinicius Junior, who has been targetted with racial abuse on multiple occasions.
Late last year, three Spaniards were arrested for aiming “racist insults” at Raphinha and his Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal during their 4-0 victory against Real Madrid.
Both clubs and LaLiga condemned the abuse.
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