Quebec racialized baseball team at Canadian Championship in Miramichi

"It started in the semifinals," said Quebec City Chef de Mission and Quebec Major League President Daniel Bélisle. It was two or three people who started insulting Quebec players about their physique, their skin color. "

Daniel Bélisle said he intervened quickly by going to see the individuals in question, but "they made me understand that they had paid their ticket, I was a baby, I complained for nothing and it was normal for they do that.

Rather than cease, insults have gained fervor. Quebec pitcher Fernando Fernandez Beltran, selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2012 repechage, was particularly targeted.

"If we take both games, there were four hours of insults. I will try to summarize the worst that I have heard, and imagine the ones I did not hear, "says the president of the Major League Baseball Quebec.

The worst was "Go back to your colored box" to my thrower Fernando Fernandez. After that, f ****** n ******. I have two players with beards provided, so they said they were Al Qaeda members and blew a bomb. It's going to hit better than what we were hitting.

Daniel Bélisle then called on Baseball Canada manager Gerry Leblanc, who dispatched a member of the organization to warn the three spectators, men.

"They did it and I have nothing to say against it, but the gentleman left and there was no supervision thereafter. Five or ten minutes later, it started again, "he continues.

On the mound, Fernando Fernandez Beltran claims that he did not hear the insults uttered in the stands, crowded on the occasion of the finals.

"I was focused in my match, my teammates too. Personally, it did not affect me, said the starting pitcher of the Quebec team. It's unfortunate when it happens, whether in a sports event or in everyday life. Racism has no place in society. "

Zero tolerance

A few years ago, the Quebec Major League League adopted a policy towards racism in its stadiums. Daniel Bélisle would like Baseball Canada to follow suit.

As soon as there are racist remarks reported, the first intervention must be immediate expulsion. It's zero tolerance, we can not accept things like that in 2019.

"There are messages recorded every game that say that unacceptable behavior is not tolerated, that we can encourage his team, but we do not want to denigrate the players of the opposing team or referees. Otherwise, there will be immediate expulsion. With us, it's like that, "he says.

Daniel Bélisle explained that Baseball Canada responded to his complaint. "They think they have done the right thing, but we do not think it's enough. "

"We do not go to war against Baseball Canada," he says. What we want is to change things. "

Nevertheless, he claims that the Quebec selection will no longer take part in Canadian tournaments if the federation does not adopt a policy against racism.

"Every championship taking place in Canada must have recorded messages like ours to warn people to behave properly," he says.

He also wants security to be strengthened during major competitions. "We had crowds at the end of the week that could go up to 3500 spectators, and security, I did not see much. If something happens, you have to act properly. "

In more than 15 years in the Quebec teams, whether as a player, coach or head of mission, Mr. Bélisle claims that this is the worst episode of racism he has faced, but it is not the only one . "In 2003 in Prince George, we were thrown plastic frogs …"

My players are professional, they have seen others. Of course they did not find it pleasant. Some wanted to intervene directly. We had to control them because if that had happened, we would have been bad guys in this story. They responded well.

Daniel Bélisle and Fernando Fernandez Beltran wish to emphasize that this is an isolated episode during this tournament and that they have been very well received by the New Brunswick organization.

"It's just three individuals who have let go," said the 24-year-old pitcher. I'm sorry it happens. From there, to what can be done, it's in the hands of Baseball Canada. "

Greg Morris, senior vice president of the senior Canadian championship committee, said he was surprised to learn that the Quebec team had been a victim of racism.

"We are shaken by the comments that have been posted on social media. We are investigating. We are preparing an appropriate response, "he said.

(With information from Jean-Philippe Hughes and Michèle Brideau)