Real Madrid filed a complaint with Spain’s hate crimes prosecutor over the racist abuse suffered by Vinicius Junior during Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat by Valencia on Sunday, while the president of the country’s football federation said “Spain has a problem with racism.”
The LaLiga match at the Mestalla was stopped in the second half after Vinicius identified a fan behind the Valencia goal as having racially abused him.
After discussions between Vinicius, referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea and Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, the game resumed, with fans being warned via the stadium’s public system of racist abuse, in accordance with UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
Vinicius was then sent off in added time after an altercation with Valencia substitute Hugo Duro, before a further confrontation with the Valencia bench.
“Real Madrid expresses its outright rejection and condemnation of the events that occurred yesterday involving our player Vinícius Junior,” Madrid said in a statement on Monday. “This event is a direct attack on our social and democratic rule of law coexistence model.”
“Real Madrid considers that such an attack also constitutes a hate crime, and has therefore submitted the relevant complaint to the state prosecutor’s office, in particular the prosecutor’s office against hate crimes and discrimination, so that the facts can be investigated and responsibility determined.”
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez met with Vinicius on Monday and issued the following statement.
“The president of Real Madrid has met with Vinicius Junior to show his support and concern and to inform him of the steps taken in his defense and to confirm that the club will do everything it can to deal with this hateful situation.”
Valencia released a statement confirming police had identified a fan who racially abused Vinicius.
They said any fan identified as involved would be given a lifetime ban.
In social media posts after Sunday’s match, Vinicius said that racism is normal in LaLiga and claimed that in Brazil, Spain is known as a racist country after a series of incidents where he was racially abused by fans.
“Spain has a problem with racism,” said the head of the national football federation RFEF Luis Rubiales on Monday, calling for sanctions and penalties for the fans involved.
“This has gone beyond football and it’s not the first time,” said Rubiales. “This is an issue of education in our country, about racism, and while we have one fan or a group of fans insulting a player because of their sexual orientation or the color of their skin, then we have a serious problem that stains the whole team. All the fans and this whole country.”
In a second statement released by Madrid on Monday, the club criticized Rubiales for not taking “decisive action”.
“We were surprised by the comments made by the president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, because, as the head of Spanish football and the refereeing profession, he did not allow decisive action to be taken, in accordance with FIFA protocol, to prevent a situation from arising,” said Madrid. . “His inaction has resulted in the helplessness and helplessness of our player Vinicius.”
As sources have told ESPN, Vinicius’ representatives have raised the possibility of leaving Real Madrid over the racist abuse he has suffered, and although the player is not currently considering leaving the club, he is “at the limit” due to his frustration at LaLiga’s handling of the club.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas responded to Vinicius’ criticism in a Twitter exchange.
“Neither Spain nor LaLiga is racist,” said Tebas. “It’s so unfair to say that. In LaLiga we denounce and overcome racism with all our might.”
“This season, racist insults have been reported nine times. Eight of them were for insults against Vini. We always identify these maniacs and file complaints with the relevant bodies. No matter how few they are, we are always relentless.”
Vinicius’ management agency TFM further criticized LaLiga on Monday, comparing what happened to Vinicius at the Mestalla to the killing of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in May 2020, which sparked a wave of protests against police brutality.
“Three years after the world was shocked by the video with George Floyd being brutally incapacitated, today, the entire world saw an incident where Vinicius Junior was detained in a cowardly, violent and unacceptable manner during discussion,” TFM said in an Instagram post.
“This is just another reflection of what has been seen throughout this LaLiga season, where it has become clear to the world that in all of Spain, they are not accepting the role of black youth, who are not accepting the most defining role and the relevant athlete in LaLiga is a young man of color. black.
“LaLiga’s covert approval of all this discrimination is a message for months to all Spaniards, that they don’t want the best, if they are black.”
Vinicius has been subjected to repeated racist abuse since moving to Spain five years ago.
Brazilian politicians, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, players and clubs have come out in support of Vinícius and criticized racism in the Spanish league.
The first trial of a fan accused of racial abuse in Spanish professional football is expected at some point this year in the case involving Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams, who was insulted by an Espanyol supporter during a game in 2020.
La Liga has made nine similar formal complaints of racist abuse against Vinicius over the last two seasons, but most of the cases have been suspended by prosecutors. Another complaint is expected to be filed once the investigation into what happened in Valencia is complete.
Fans have been fined and banned from the stadium for their abuse, but so far only Mallorca fans will be prosecuted for allegedly racially insulting a Brazilian during the game.
Tebas criticized Vinicius for attacking the league, saying the player had not shown up for the racism talks he had asked himself.
Meanwhile, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said the issue went beyond club rivalries and it was time for games to be stopped if there was an incident of racism in the stadium.
“Sad and regrettable this incident is still happening in 2023,” he said at a press conference, Monday. “We must condemn any act of racism against any player and in any place, beyond allegiance to the club.”
“The jersey doesn’t matter. Vinicius was a person before he was a footballer. We have to defend everyone regardless of their club color. No one should have to accept this humiliation.”
“This is my work environment, and it’s the only sport where insults are accepted, normalized. I’m on the bench and people are shouting ‘whatever kid’ and all kinds of insults. It’s time to stop this.
“This is a message to the presidents of the league and federation. If there are insults, we have to stop the game. Enough is enough. I have to take advantage of my position as Barca coach and say it’s time to say enough, stop the game.”
