Following appalling scenes during Sunday's defeat at Valencia, Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr has called LaLiga and Spain racist.
The player was subjected to an array of racial slurs, leading to him pointing toward the contingent of supporters who were targetting him from the crowd.
The scenario led to the game being stopped for approximately ten minutes while officials attempted to deal with the player's complaints. Amid this, the Brazilian got into a physical altercation with several Valencia players, ultimately leading to his dismissal.
🫵 The moment Vinicius Jr pointed out a group of supporters in the crowd who were racial abusing him to the referee.
No action was taken. ❌
𝗡𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 deserves this. 💔 pic.twitter.com/PqGUS2Og6Z
— PurelyFootball ℗ (@PurelyFootball) May 21, 2023
"It wasn't the first time, nor the second, nor the third. Racism is normal in LaLiga. The competition thinks it's normal, the Federation does too and the opponents encourage it," Vinicius posted to Twitter afterwards.
"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 defence. I agree. But I am strong and I will go to the end against racists. Even if far from here."
Não foi a primeira vez, nem a segunda e nem a terceira. O racismo é o normal na La Liga. A competição acha normal, a Federação também e os adversários incentivam. Lamento muito. O campeonato que já foi de Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano e Messi hoje é dos racistas. Uma nação…
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) May 21, 2023
Following the disturbing scenes on the pitch, video recordings appear to show a large portion of the stadium chanting the word 'mono' (monkey) at the forward.
LaLiga was quick to respond and has claimed that it will request all available images and recordings. "If any hate crime is identified, we will take the appropriate legal action," it said in a statement.
A full stadium chanting “mono” (Monkey) towards Vini JR
I’ll just use Jude as an example. What on earth does he see moving to a league where racial abuse is normalised as completely fine pic.twitter.com/6liXxbH1F6
— 💔 (@BlessedBobby_) May 21, 2023
LaLiga president Javier Tebas appeared less sympathetic in his response, claiming the player should be 'more informed' about what can be done in racist cases.
"Since those who should explain to you what it is and what LaLiga can do in cases of racism, we have tried to explain it ourselves, but you have not shown up for either of the two agreed dates that you requested yourself," Tebas wrote on Twitter.
"Before you criticise and slander LaLiga you need to inform yourself properly @Vinijr. Don't let yourself be manipulated and make sure you understand each other's competencies and the work we have been doing together," he added.
Ya que los que deberían no te explican qué es y qué puede hacer @LaLiga en los casos de racismo, hemos intentado explicártelo nosotros, pero no te has presentado a ninguna de las dos fechas acordadas que tú mismo solicitaste. Antes de criticar e injuriar a @LaLiga, es necesario… https://t.co/pLCIx1b6hS pic.twitter.com/eHvdd3vJcb
— Javier Tebas Medrano (@Tebasjavier) May 21, 2023
Vinicius would respond via his Twitter account, remaining firm in his beliefs that he is continuously suffering from a lack of support from the League.
"Once again, instead of criticizing racists, the president of LaLiga appears on social media to attack me," he said.
"As much as you talk and pretend not to read, the image of your championship is shaken. See the responses to your posts and have a surprise... Omitting yourself only makes you equal to racists.
"I'm not your friend to talk about racism. I want actions and punishments. Hashtag doesn't move me."
Mais uma vez, em vez de criticar racistas, o presidente da LaLiga aparece nas redes sociais para me atacar.
Por mais que você fale e finja não ler, a imagem do seu campeonato está abalada. Veja as respostas do seus posts e tenha uma surpresa...
Omitir-se só faz com que você se… https://t.co/RGO9AZ24IA
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) May 21, 2023
The Spanish league previously lodged complaints of racist chanting against Vinicius Jr, and the Spanish police are investigating a possible hate crime against the player after a mannequin wearing his number 20 shirt was hung from a bridge outside Real Madrid's training ground earlier this year.
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