Chicago Cubs ban fan for white nationalists gesture during Glanville live report


Devdiscourse News Desk | Updated: 09-05-2019 07:46 IST | Created: 09-05-2019 07:19 IST
Chicago Cubs ban fan for white nationalists gesture during Glanville live report
The fan's face could not be seen during the broadcast, but the team announced Wednesday night it had identified the fan in question and that it determined the gesture was "more likely than not" racist in nature. Image Credit: Wikimedia
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The Chicago Cubs announced Wednesday night that they indefinitely banned a fan from Wrigley Field for using what the club deemed to be a racist gesture on live TV the day before. The incident took place while former Cubs player Doug Glanville was working as an on-field reporter during Chicago's 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins. While Glanville, who is black, was giving a live report for NBC Sports Chicago, cameras captured a hand behind Glanville making a gesture associated with white nationalists and far-right extremist groups.

The fan's face could not be seen during the broadcast, but the team announced Wednesday night it had identified the fan in question and that it determined the gesture was "more likely than not" racist in nature. The gesture is also popular as part of a game in which a person tries to trick another person into looking at them making the gesture. Team president of business operations Crane Kenney said in a statement Wednesday night that while the club was unsuccessful in its attempts to reach the fan by phone, it sent him a letter informing him that he is indefinitely banned from the stadium.

"The long-standing Chicago Cubs Guest Code of Conduct is in place to ensure a safe, comfortable and enjoyable environment for all fans and prohibits unacceptable behaviour," Kenney said in the statement. "After a review of last night's broadcast footage, we concluded this individual's actions violated the Guest Code of Conduct.

"As a result, after repeated attempts to reach this individual by phone, we sent a letter to the individual notifying him of our findings and our decision that, effectively immediately, he will not be permitted on the grounds of Wrigley Field or other ticketed areas indefinitely. We further communicated if he attempts to enter Wrigley Field or other ticketed areas he may be subject to prosecution for criminal trespass to property."

NBC Sports Chicago general manager Kevin Cross issued a statement condemning the fan's gesture and offering support to Glanville. "We are disappointed by the incident that took place on our air last evening, one that was at the expense of our colleague Doug Glanville," the statement read. "We find the behaviour of this fan reprehensible and clearly does not represent the great Cubs fans of our city and those around the country. We stand by our partners at the Cubs and will support their efforts regarding the investigation of this incident."

Glanville said in a statement expressing appreciation of the network's handling of the incident, "They have displayed sensitivity as to how the implications of this would affect me as a person of colour." He added that he was not aware of the gesture until after he completed his report on air. The Cubs hosted the Marlins on Wednesday night in the third game of a four-game series.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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