The National Council of Canadian Muslims says a “real opportunity” exists after Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander posted and then deleted anti-Muslim videos online.
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The National Council of Canadian Muslims says it found Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander’s recent anti-Muslim social media posts “very disconcerting,” but believes the situation can be turned into something positive.
In comments Monday, Steven Zhou, the National Council of Canadian Muslims’ media and communications lead, said the council’s community generally wants stronger relationships “basically — and education,” and “above all” wants an apology from Santander.
Zhou’s remarks came after Santander posted a series of anti-Muslim videos on social media following the U.S. midterm elections last Tuesday and deleted the posts two days later.
The videos included a Christian preacher saying, “There is no such thing as kind Muslims,” along with another claim suggesting Sharia law would be imposed on the U.S. after Abdul El-Sayed was elected to the Senate in Michigan. El-Sayed, described as the son of Egyptian immigrants, is set to become the first Muslim American U.S. senator.
Zhou said athletes and sports teams are “supposed to be a symbol of unity” in Toronto, and he called it unfortunate to see messages that frame Muslims as dangerous or excluded.
A message left with Santander’s agent and sports management company was not immediately returned.
The Blue Jays released a statement last Friday saying, “Baseball is for everyone, and the Blue Jays have created an inclusive experience where all fans feel welcome at our ballpark,” adding that “Individual comments do not represent our organization’s values and beliefs.”
A Toronto-area Muslim league leader also said he was surprised by the posts. Abdul Murad, commissioner for One Ummah Softball, said he encountered the circulating Islamophobic content after the elections and “didn’t expect to see a professional athlete” from a team he supports sharing a similar message.
Murad said many Muslim fans were upset with the team’s statement and with the lack of an announced reprimand.
Another community reaction came from Emad Ahmed, an Oakville influencer, who said he was “appalled” when he saw the posts on Instagram and added that such behaviour makes the sport feel less welcoming to join.
A crisis communications adviser said the Blue Jays’ response appeared “the bare minimum,” arguing the Muslim community deserves “a fulsome response” and a “clear action plan.”
Santander, 32, is from Venezuela and signed a five-year, US$92.5-million deal with the Blue Jays in January 2025. He did not play at the major-league level last season due to injuries, and is expected to be an everyday player again in 2027.
It remained unclear whether the club or the league would impose specific consequences for Santander following the online posts. Sports lawyer Emir Crowne said via email that any outcome could range from “a fine, a short suspension, or sensitivity training,” adding that anything heavier could be grieved, and that a “genuine apology” could help.
Crowne also pointed to the potential role of an arbitrator in determining whether a punishment fits.
The Blue Jays have faced earlier controversy tied to a player’s social media activity. In May 2023, reliever Anthony Bass faced criticism for sharing a video supporting boycotts of companies that backed the LGBTQ+ community. Bass later apologized and met with Pride Toronto representatives, was designated for assignment before the team’s Pride weekend, and was released; the team cited performance as the main reason for the move while acknowledging the controversy was a factor.
Zhou said the council’s “doors are absolutely open,” adding that it wants to meet the player and the club’s ownership and “develop something going forward.”
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