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Brazilian footballer Vinicius Junior has been subjected to racist abuse several times this season while playing in La Liga. He said that these incidents meant that Spain in his homeland was “now known as the country of the racists”.
Monday, May 22, 2023, 10:08 a.m., United Kingdom
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has claimed racism is “normal” in La Liga after fans targeted him with offensive chants.
A match at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium on Sunday evening was halted after a half-time break, with the 22-year-old suggesting that the fans were mocking him to the referee.
Vinicius, who has been subjected to racial abuse from the stands several times this season, is clearly angry, prompting teammates and opposition players to try to calm him down.
The Brazilian was later sent off for violent behavior in extra time of his team’s 1-0 defeat after an altercation with Valencia striker Hugo Duro – the first red card of his career.
Image: Vinicius Jr points at a fan after witnessing the abuse
In a statement on Instagram after the match, Vinicius referred to previous instances of racist abuse and accused Spanish football authorities of not doing enough.
“It was not the first time, nor the second, nor the third. Racism is normal in La Liga,” he said.
“Competition thinks it’s normal, and so does the federation and opponents encourage it. I’m so sorry.”
“La Liga belongs to the racists”
Vinicius said La Liga, which was once owned by star players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, now “belongs to racists”.
“Sorry for the Spaniards who don’t agree, but today in Brazil Spain is known as the country of racists,” he added.
“Unfortunately, with everything that happens on a weekly basis, I have no way of defending myself. I agree with him.”
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti backed his player, saying the Spanish league had a “problem” of racism.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva: We cannot allow racism to become part of life on a football field
The Italian said the referee should have stopped the match because of the “unacceptable” chants directed at Vinicius.
“The entire stadium is insulting the player with racist chants, and the match must be stopped,” he added.
Ancelotti also tweeted: “Today was a sad day at Mestalla, with a group of fans showing their worst version.
“It’s time to stop talking and act tough. Racism can have no place in football or in society. No racism anywhere.”
However, Valencia manager Javier Solís said Mr. Ancelotti was wrong to blame all the fans.
He said: “In light of the unfortunate and completely false statements of Mr. Ancelotti, in which he called all the fans at Mestalla racist, the club cannot tolerate that.
“We dismiss these complaints head on. It may have been the result of a mistake in language and he must have understood another word as being said.
“The club condemns any kind of racist insult and is working to identify the people who allegedly made the gesture or act, but calling all Valencia fans racist is nonsense and the club cannot remain silent.”
Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, an anti-racism campaigner, wrote on Instagram: “He received a red card after being choked and receiving racist abuse during a match.
“How many times do we need to see this young man go through this shit? I see pain, I see disgust, I see him needing help…and the authorities are doing nothing to help him.”
“People need to stand together and demand more of the authorities running our game.
Nobody deserves this but you allow it.
“There has to be a unified approach to this or it will be swept under the rug again.”
Referring to Vinicius Jr’s red card, Match of the Day presenter and former England striker Gary Lineker tweeted: “Once again, only the player who gets abused gets punished.”
Brazilian President Lula da Silva also condemned Vinicius’ treatment on Sunday in Mestalla.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan, he called on FIFA and La Liga to “take action so that we do not allow racism and fascism to take over” the sport.
The president said Vinicius, widely considered one of the best young players in the world, “is humiliated in every stadium he goes to”.
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Nadi undertakes to investigate
La Liga issued its own statement, saying it had been “fighting this type of behavior for years”.
Valencia also published a statement on the club’s website, pledging to investigate what happened and “take the most severe measures”.
“Valencia FC wishes to condemn any kind of insult, attack or disqualification in football,” the statement added.
Sunday’s match was attended by about 46,000 fans, which saw Valencia rise to 13th place in the league table and Real Madrid remain in third place, 14 points behind arch-rivals Barcelona, the league champion.
Diego Lopez scored the only goal of the match in the 33rd minute for the hosts.
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