Real denounces hate crimes against Vini Jr. to the Public Ministry

Real Madrid filed a complaint with the Attorney General of Spain to investigate hate crimes and discrimination suffered by Brazilian striker Vinícius Júnior, in the 1-0 defeat against Valencia, on Sunday (21), for the national championship. In an official statement this Monday (22), the club emphasizes that “it expresses its strongest disgust and condemns the events that occurred yesterday against our player”.

For the merengue club, “such attacks also constitute a hate crime, which is why it filed the corresponding complaint with the State Attorney General’s Office, specifically with the Office of the Attorney General against hate crimes and discrimination, so that the facts are investigated and responsibilities established” .

Two other organizations, the Union of players in the country (Association of Football Players of Spain -AFE) and the Movement Against Intolerãnica (MCI) – also repudiated the “unacceptable behavior of some fans” and triggered the Spanish Public Ministry against the insults. and racist insults directed at Vini Jr.

“Both the Government and the Public Ministry can and must act immediately on the matter to adopt the necessary measures in the face of such serious events. Not everything is fair in sport, where true criminals are sheltered and must be repudiated and punished with the forcefulness they deserve”, said the two entities, in a statement.

Repeatedly, the Brazilian Vini Jr., 22 years old, has been the target of racist attacks during a game of the Spanish Championship, organized by LaLiga, a private entity. This Sunday (21) he was once again insulted, even before stepping onto the field. According to Reuters, videos posted on social media showed hundreds of Valencia fans chanting “Vinicius is a monkey” as the Real bus arrived at the Mestalla stadium.

Then, during the game, racist insults and shouts of ‘monkey’ were uttered from the stands, after a move in the 29th minute of the second half: Vini tried to play from the left, and at the moment a second ball was thrown on the field and kicked by Eray Cömert , an athlete from Valencia, on purpose to interrupt the Brazilian’s move. That’s when Vini went to the part of the Valencia crowd, located behind the local team’s goal, and pointed at fans who insulted him by calling him a monkey. The game was stopped for eight minutes and then resumed. However, in stoppage time, Vini got involved in a fight with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and, after being restrained by opponent Hugo Duro with a tie, hit the Valencia athlete in the face when trying to break free. In the end, only the Brazilian was punished, being expelled.

After the match, the coach of Real Madrid, the Italian Carlo Ancelotti, was disgusted and incredulous with the event.

“I don’t want to talk about football, but about what happened here. This cannot happen, an entire stadium screaming something like that. He didn’t want to continue and I would think it’s fair because he’s the victim. This cannot happen,” said Ancelotti.

The athlete also vented on social networks and lamented that the repeated discriminatory attacks are making Spain known as “a racist country”.

“It wasn’t the first time, nor the second nor the third. Racism is normal in La Liga. The competition thinks it’s normal, the Federation does too and the opponents encourage it. I’m so sorry. The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi, today belongs to racists. A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and which I love, but which agreed to export the image of a racist country to the world. I’m sorry for the Spaniards who don’t agree, but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists. And unfortunately, for everything that happens each week, I have no defense. I agree. But I am strong and I will go to the end against racists. Even if far from here”.

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