‘It wasn’t the 1st, 2nd or 3rd’: ten times Vinicius Jr was a victim of racism in Spain – 05/22/2023 – Sport

“It wasn’t the first time, nor the second nor the third. Racism is normal in La Liga.”

This was the manifestation of striker Vinícius Junior on Sunday (21/5) after being again subject to racist attacks in a La Liga game, the Spanish championship, this time in a game between his club, Real Madrid, and Valencia.

Before and during the match, Valencia fans sang songs calling Vinícius Junior a “monkey”. During the match, Vinícius Junior addressed rival fans who were cursing him.

The match was interrupted for a few minutes by the referee and the stadium’s sound system broadcast a request for fans to avoid racist insults.

After the game, there was an exchange of criticism between Vinícius Junior and the president of La Liga (the Spanish championship), Javier Tebas, on social networks.

Real Madrid said it was asking Spanish authorities to investigate the case. And Valencia have vowed to ban fans who uttered racist insults from their stadium forever.

This was the tenth episode reported as racism against Vinícius Junior in Spain. And this survey shows that episodes of racism against the player are intensifying: there was one case in 2021, three in 2022 and six this year.

Vinícius Junior accuses La Liga of colluding with racism. Already the Spanish entity says it has no authority to punish clubs or players – and that it forwards all cases to the Spanish authorities.

So far, punishments have been restricted to fines and temporary suspensions of fans. Nobody was arrested.

In a note, the Brazilian government released a note in which it asks the “governmental and sporting authorities in Spain to take the necessary measures to punish the perpetrators and prevent the recurrence of these acts”, in addition to asking FIFA, the Spanish Federation and the League “to apply the appropriate measures”.

He also said that he “repudiates, in the strongest terms, the racist attacks that the Brazilian athlete Vinícius Júnior has repeatedly suffered in Spain” and that he “deeply regrets that, until now, effective measures have not been taken to prevent and avoid the repetition of these acts of racism”.

Check out what happened in each episode below.

1) Oct. 24, 21 – Barcelona 1 x 2 Real Madrid

The oldest episode of racism against Vinícius Junior in Spain was reported on October 24, 2021, a year after he arrived at the Madrid club.

The incident took place at the Camp Nou stadium, during a derby against Barcelona won by Vinícius’ team. A fan made racist attacks on the Brazilian and the incident was reported to the Spanish authorities.

However, the case was dropped because authorities said they were unable to identify the assailant.

2) 14.mar.22 – Mallorca 0 x 3 Real Madrid

Vinícius scored one of the goals in Real Madrid’s victory and heard racist curses from the stands again.

Again the case was reported to the authorities, who dropped the charges, stating that they did not find a hate crime.

Months later, Mallorca captain Antonio Raíllo accused Vinícius Junior of provoking his opponents with dancing. “When he is called a provocateur, he uses the joker of racism,” Raíllo told the Spanish press.

3) 18.set.22 – Atlético Madrid 1 x 2 Real Madrid

Videos circulated showing Atlético fans calling Vinícius Junior a monkey before the match, in the vicinity of the stadium.

The case was investigated by authorities who came to the conclusion that the provocations between fans happened within the normality of sporting rivalry – and that the racist insults lasted “only a few seconds”.

That week Pedro Bravo, president of the Spanish Association of Players’ Entrepreneurs, had said that Vinícius Junior needed to stop provoking his opponents and stop “monkeying”.

“You have to respect your rival. If you want to dance, go to the Sambadrome in Brazil,” he said.

4) 30.Dec.22 – Valladolid 0 x 2 Real Madrid

Vinícius had been substituted in the match and was passing in front of Valladolid fans when Real Madrid scored a goal. He celebrated in front of Valladolid fans and was the target of racist abuse.

Spanish authorities investigated the case and proposed a €4,000 fine and banning of the fans involved.

Valladolid itself banned 11 fans for the rest of the season.

Vinícius criticized La Liga for not acting against racism.

The president of La Liga, Javier Terbas, also responded on the social network: “LaLiga has been fighting racism for years. Vini Jr, it is very regrettable and it is not true to publish that LaLiga does nothing against racism. at your disposal so that all together, we can walk in the same direction”

5) 26.jan.23 – Real Madrid 3 x 1 Atlético Madrid

On the eve of the game, Atlético Madrid fans hung a doll dressed in Vinícius Junior’s shirt on a city bridge, simulating the player’s hanging.

The doll had hate messages against the striker and the club.

The attitude sparked messages of repudiation from the Brazilian Football Confederation and the two clubs. On the internet, the hashtag #BailaViniJr went viral.

6) 5.Feb.23 – Mallorca 1 x 0 Real Madrid

A 20-year-old fan uttered racist insults against Vinícius Junior during the match. The man was identified by the police and the club banned him from playing games at the stadium.

He is being prosecuted by the Spanish authorities, as he is a repeat offender of racist abuse against another player.

The Spanish authorities are considering applying a fine of 3,000 euros and a six-month ban in football stadiums.

7) 18.Feb.23 – Osasuna 0 x 2 Real Madrid

Vinícius Junior was the target of racist insults. He was even verbally abused during the minute of silence held in honor of earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.

8) 5.mar.23 – Betis 0 x 0 Real Madrid

Once again Vinícius Junior was called a monkey by fans in Seville when he took a corner kick in the match.

La Liga referred the case to the Spanish authorities.

9) 19.mar.23 – Barcelona 2 x 1 Real Madrid

For the second time, Barcelona fans were denounced for racist insults to Vinícius Junior during the match.

La Liga issued a statement: “In view of the events that took place during the Barcelona v Real Madrid match, in which intolerable racist behavior was again observed against Vinícius Junior, La Liga has reported the racist insults to the Barcelona Court of Instruction. It is the eighth complaint made by La Liga to the corresponding authorities for racist abuse against Vinícius Junior.”

10) 21.May.23 – Valencia 1 x 0 Real Madrid

Before the match, videos show Valencia fans singing songs in which they call Vinícius Junior a monkey.

During the match, the Brazilian player confronted fans who cursed him in the stands. The referee stopped the match for a few minutes and a warning against racism was made over the loudspeaker.

After the game, Vinícius criticized La Liga and was hit back by the president of the entity.