Cubs say fan will be banished from Wrigley Field for using racist symbol during a TV broadcast

Anthony Rizzo, Pedro Strop

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) and relief pitcher Pedro Strop (46) celebrate their 4-0 win against the Miami Marlins after a baseball game, Tuesday, April 16, 2019, in Miami. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)AP

The Chicago Cubs are trying to track down a fan who allegedly used a racist symbol while a black reporter was on live television during a live broadcast at Wrigley Field.

The fan, if identified could be banned for the park for life, said a Cubs official.

The incident occurred Tuesday night while Doug Glanville, a former outfielder for the Cubs and now an analyst for NBC Sports Chicago, was talking about the state of the Cubs in front of the dugout in a game between the Cubs and Miami Marlins. That’s when a fan, sporting a Cubs sweatshirt, seated behind Glanville could be seen forming an upside-down “OK” symbol, a hand gesture that sometimes is associated with white supremacy.

The cameras immediately cut away from Glanville to a team graphic, and now Wrigley Park officials are investigating the incident.

“We are currently investigating an incident that occurred during the Cubs’ May 7 broadcast on NBC Sports Chicago while reporter Doug Glanville was on the air,” Crane Kenny, the Cubs president of business operations, said in a statement to the New York Post. “An individual seated behind Mr. Glanville used what appears to be an offensive hand gesture that is associated with racism."

The statement also went on to say that Cubs will not tolerate any such behavior at their park.

“Any derogatory conduct should be reported immediately to our ballpark staff. Any individual behaving in this manner will not only be removed from the ballpark, but will be permanently banned from Wrigley Field.”

This is not the first time this season, the Cubs have been in the center of a racist firestorm.

Back in April, on the day when Major League Baseball was celebrating Jackie Robinson Day, the league was looking into a racist Instagram post that was sent to Chicago Cubs pitcher Carl Edwards Jr.

Apparently soon after Edwards Jr. was demoted after a poor performance, he was sent a nasty Instagram post from a supposed fan.

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