A cartoon depicting footballer Paul Pogba and his agent Mino Raiola, published by sports website GOAL UK, has drawn huge criticism on Twitter for its depiction of the young footballer.
The illustration features young footballer Pogba sitting with his agent, enjoying the riches the pair have won as part of Man United’s record signing of the young Frenchman.
Not only is Pogba drawn in something closely resembling blackface caricature, he is also hovering in a bubble over various depictions of turmoil faced in the world – such as poverty, displaced refugees and the Black Lives Matter movement, implying that Pogba is betraying these people by seeking success for himself.
Twitter users have noted that similarly well-paid footballers such as Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi do not face the same level of scrutiny. Others have remarked on the case’s similarity to the specific abuse targeted at Raheem Sterling after England’s shoddy performance at the Euros.
https://twitter.com/_Zeets/status/763715417340772352
By the logic of your cartoon, @GoalUK, #BlackLivesMatter is harmed by a young black athlete committed to excellence. pic.twitter.com/hrO4MPQ8Zp
— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) August 11, 2016
Yes, I didn’t see Gareth Bale getting this treatment. https://t.co/qWZySSbvv4
— (((Musa Okwonga))) (@Okwonga) August 11, 2016
The cartoon has since been removed from GOAL’s social media profiles, with the image now being replaced with a more straightforward photograph of Pogba on his way to his Manchester medical as the banner image of the attached article.
Jordan based cartoonist Omar Momani, who is believed to be responsible for the image, has since removed it from his social media profiles.
https://twitter.com/TheM_L_G/status/763721349189603328
JOE has since contacted GOAL UK and the cartoonist for comment.
