Vinicius Jr., the talented Afro-Brazilian forward of Real Madrid, has taken to social media to criticize La Liga and its president, Javier Tebas, following an incident of racist abuse during a match against Valencia. Vinicius was subjected to racial slurs and received a red card during the 1-0 defeat on Sunday.
Expressing his frustration, Vinicius tweeted, “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.”
In response, Javier Tebas tweeted, “Before criticizing and insulting La Liga, you need to inform yourself properly Vinícius,” to which Vinicius retorted, “Once again, instead of criticizing racists, the president of La Liga appears on social media to attack me.”
Also, read; Rabat hosts 8th MOCA festival to promote Africa’s cultural industry
During the match, Vinicius pointed out individuals in the crowd who he believed were racially abusing him, leading to a temporary halt in the game. Despite his efforts, he was escorted away by teammates and subsequently received a red card in the dying moments of the match during a scuffle between both teams.
Real Madrid’s head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, stood firmly in defense of Vinicius, stating, “The Spanish league has a problem, and it’s not Vinicius. Vinicius is the victim. The problem is very grave.”
The incident highlights the persistent issue of racism in football and raises concerns about the measures in place to address such incidents within La Liga. The response from Vinicius and his coach underscores the urgent need for stronger actions against racism and discrimination in the sport.
