Real Madrid’s Bernabéu message to Vinicius in minute 20 against Rayo Vallecano
Real Madrid, under the leadership of Florentino Pérez, orchestrated a powerful show of support for Brazilian player Vinicius during their match against Rayo Vallecano, taking a stand against racism. The Santiago Bernabéu stadium became a platform for solidarity on Wednesday as Real Madrid fans unfurled a banner proclaiming "Vinícius is all of us, enough is enough," denouncing racism and expressing unwavering support for the player. The pinnacle of this display of unity occurred in the 20th minute of the game, coinciding with Vinicius' jersey number, when the entire stadium erupted in chants of his name and slogans condemning abuse. Vinicius, present in the stadium but not on the pitch as he was rested due to stress, acknowledged the support by waving from his seat.
Real Madrid transformed the match against Rayo Vallecano into an act of rectification following a season filled with continuous insults aimed at Vinicius, with the vitriol reaching its peak during a recent clash at Mestalla. Vinicius, at the center of this narrative, attended the game as a spectator, having been personally invited by club president Florentino Pérez to receive the adoration of all Madridistas from the exclusive box. Pérez recognized that Vinicius' tribulations extend beyond football, as the 22-year-old finds himself in a foreign land, and believed that unwavering support was necessary during this challenging period.
Real Madrid asserts that the animosity directed at Vinicius has been exacerbated by collective complacency. Recently, the police apprehended four individuals involved in a regrettable incident from January, where a black doll wearing a Vinicius shirt was found hanging from a bridge near Valdebebas. Notably, three of the detained individuals have previous associations with Atlético ultras and criminal records.
The timing of these arrests is not coincidental, and it's worth mentioning that both LaLiga and the Federation have recently intensified their campaigns against racism, likely in response to stern reprimands from FIFA, who were deeply disturbed by the events in Valencia. Real Madrid suggests that Vinicius' ordeal could have been mitigated if all institutions, including the Prosecutor's Office, had fulfilled their responsibilities and exhibited greater determination in combating hate crimes.
The football world has rallied together to support Vinicius during this difficult time, with FC Barcelona's Raphinha wearing a vest with a message aimed at his compatriot. The Christ the Redeemer statue turned off its lights as a national act of support for Vinicius after he endured racist abuse. As a consequence of the incident, Valencia has been ordered to close their Mario Kempes Stand at the Mestalla Stadium and pay fines of nearly $50,000. Furthermore, Vinicius' red card from the match has been rescinded.
Javier Tebas, the president of LaLiga, apologized for engaging in an online dispute with the player immediately following the incident, acknowledging that they had tried to explain LaLiga's role and actions against racism to Vinicius but faced difficulties in scheduling meetings. He advised Vinicius to refrain from being manipulated and to understand the work they have been doing together
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