After hearing verbal racial abuse from spectators during Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss to Valencia on Sunday, star winger Vinicius Junior accused La Liga and Spain of being racist. The game paused for ten minutes after Vinicius called out the fans in the crowd criticising him. Later, during extra time, he got into a fight with Valencia’s players and was shown a straight Red card.
“It was not the first time, nor the second, nor the third. Racism is normal in La Liga. The competition considers it normal, the federation considers it normal, and the rivals encourage it,” Vinicius tweeted after the game. “The league that that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi today belongs to the racists.
‘Spain is known as a country of racists’ – Vinicius Junior
“A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and which I love, but which accepted to export to the world the image of a racist country. I am sorry for those Spaniards who disagree, but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists. I am strong, and I will go all the way against the racists. Even if it is far away from here,” the youngster added.
Carlo Ancelotti, the manager of Real, also wrote about the event on his social media handles, saying, “Today has been a sad day at Mestalla, where a group of fans have shown their worst version. It is time to stop talking and act forcefully. Racism has no place in football or society. NO TO RACISM ANYWHERE.”
La Liga will ask for all of the photographs that are accessible to look into what happened in light of the situation. “If any hate crime is identified, we will take the appropriate legal action,” it said in a statement.
Vinicius Junior’s most recent complaint was brought before a judge in Mallorca after spectators were seen on tape cursing the young forward in a racial manner. The Spanish league has already noted the forward of being the target of offensive or discriminatory chants repeatedly. Following the hanging of a mannequin wearing his No. 20 jersey from a bridge at Real Madrid’s training complex in January, Vinicius Junior is the focus of an investigation by Spanish police for a possible hate crime.
