What happened to Vinicius Jr? Real Madrid winger racially abused vs Valencia, given red card
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr once again became the target of racist abuse during their 1-0 loss to Valencia. The incident occurred during the match, with chants directed at Vinicius from a section of the Valencia home fans. This is not the first time the Brazilian player has faced such abuse, and witnesses suggest that the problem is worsening, with a larger portion of fans involved this time. Both Vinicius and Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti called on La Liga to take decisive action and address the hostile environment that Vinicius continues to endure in Spain.
In the 70th minute of the match, play was halted as Vinicius called the referee's attention and pointed towards the stands at Mestalla Stadium. He engaged in a heated exchange with the Valencia fans, gesturing and shouting at them while they responded with chants and banners. Players from both teams intervened, with Real Madrid teammates joining Vinicius in confronting the fans, while Valencia players tried to control the situation. Ancelotti was seen discussing the incident with Vinicius and later revealed that he had to convince the player to continue playing as he wanted to leave the match.
After a delay of approximately 10 minutes, the match resumed. However, in the seventh minute of stoppage time, an altercation broke out on the pitch, resulting in pushing and shoving among the players. Referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea reviewed the footage and showed yellow cards to Vinicius and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. After further consultation with the monitor, the referee changed his decision and issued a straight red card to Vinicius, the first of his career. As Vinicius walked off, he held up two fingers, possibly taunting the Valencia fans about their relegation battle this season, which further angered the Valencia players.
Ancelotti expressed his anger and frustration in the post-match press conference, emphasizing that the blame lies with La Liga and not with Vinicius. He criticized the referee for not stopping the game entirely and called for a strong response to racism, stating that there is no place for it in football or society. Ancelotti dismissed suggestions that the chants were not racially motivated and insisted that the referee halted the game to initiate the racism protocol.
Vinicius took to social media after the match to express his increasing frustration at being subjected to racial abuse repeatedly. He revealed that he has faced racial abuse on five occasions this season, both on and off the pitch. Vinicius criticized La Liga, the Spanish Football Federation, and opposing teams for not taking decisive action against racism. He apologized to the Spaniards who do not agree with the situation but asserted that Spain is known as a country of racists in Brazil due to the repeated incidents.
La Liga has confirmed that it will investigate the incident and take appropriate legal action if any hate crime is identified. Valencia released a statement condemning the insults and attacks, describing the incident as isolated and not in line with their values. They pledged to investigate the matter thoroughly and impose severe measures against those responsible while thanking the majority of fans for their support.
The repeated instances of racial abuse directed at Vinicius highlight a persistent problem in Spanish football. The incident has sparked calls for stronger action and stricter measures to combat racism within the sport. The responses from Vinicius, Ancelotti, and the clubs involved underscore the urgency for change and the need to address this issue head-on.
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