Police investigate case of hanged Vinicius Junior doll in Spain

A doll with the shirt and number of Vinicius Junior appeared hanged on a bridge in Spain a few hours before the derby between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid for the Copa del Rey this Thursday.

The player’s representation was hung near the Real Madrid training center, accompanied by a banner that read “Madrid hates Real”, as shown in photos and videos recorded by the local press.

“We are investigating what happened,” police sources told AFP, without giving further details at this time.

According to the Spanish press, the motto that appears on the doll is often used by radical fans of Atlético de Madrid.

The incident took place just hours before Real Madrid and Atlético played the quarter-finals on Thursday night in a single game at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Vinicius is back at the center of controversy after being the target of racist insults in the last match between the two teams.

In last September’s league derby, which the Whites won 2-1, some Rojiblanco fans chanted racist insults against Vinícius before and during the match.

Such facts were taken to the courts, which closed the process for not having found a crime or guilty parties.

Vinicius “is a player that we need, that football needs, that has an extraordinary talent”, said on Wednesday the coach of the meringues, Carlo Ancelotti, for whom “we have to protect him physically and mentally”.

“I see you motivated. He doesn’t complain – added the Italian coach, when asked about the fouls that the Brazilian receives and his constant fights with opponents and fans in his matches.

The new action in relation to the Brazilian triggered a wave of rejection, starting with the club itself.

“We express our strongest condemnation of events that violate people’s fundamental rights and dignity and that have nothing to do with the values ​​that football and sport represent,” Real Madrid said in a statement.

The alvinegro team is grateful for the support received “after the regrettable and disgusting act of racism, xenophobia and hatred against our player Vinicius” and “trusts that all responsibilities of those who participated in such a despicable act will be expurgated”.

‘Disgusting facts’

“Acts like this are absolutely repugnant and inadmissible and embarrass society.

“The rivalry between the two clubs is maximum, but so is respect”, added the rojiblanco club, confident that “the authorities will be able to clarify what happened”.

“We strongly condemn acts of hatred against Vinicius. Intolerance and violence do not fit in football,” LaLiga said in a message on Twitter.

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) also “regrets and vehemently condemns the intolerable act” committed a few hours after the Madrid derby, by sending “a message of support to Vinicius, directly threatened by the radicals in a deplorable way”.

“This type of demonstration, filled with hate, only encourages violence and has no place in our sport,” the RFEF added in a statement.

“We condemn this inadmissible episode, which constitutes a hate crime. The AFE is already in contact with various institutions and will appear as a private prosecution in any case that opens on this intolerable fact”, warned the AFE players’ union.