Players protest against racism in football before a LaLiga match – 05/23/2023 – Sport

Moments before the ball rolls for the match between Real Sociedad and Almería, this Tuesday (23), in a duel for the 36th round of the Spanish Championship, players from both teams joined in a protest against racism.

The athletes displayed a banner with the inscription “Racists, out of football” in the center of the lawn of the Anoeta stadium. The action is one more that takes place in the midst of numerous manifestations of support for the Brazilian Vinicius Junior, from Real Madrid, who last Sunday (21) was again the victim of racist insults.

Earlier, also this Tuesday, the Spanish police confirmed that they had identified three fans who made racist gestures during the duel between Real Madrid and Valencia. They were held for questioning but were released.

Another four fans were also taken by the police, suspected of having hung a dummy with the Brazilian player’s shirt on a bridge, before the derby between Real and Atlético de Madrid, in January.

As a reaction to the repercussions of the racism case against Vinicius Junior, LaLiga will ask for more powers to take action against clubs and fans accused of discrimination.

In a note published on its website, the organization that organizes the club championship in Spain says it is “frustrated” at not being able to impose more severe punishments.

“Faced with this serious situation, in the next few days LaLiga will formally request that the law be amended (…) against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport”, says the published text.

The organizer wants to have the power to sanction clubs with the total or partial closure of stadiums, the banning of fans involved in cases of racism and the imposition of economic sanctions “without prejudice to the adoption of provisional or precautionary measures that may proceed given the nature and gravity of the facts”.