Sports

Repeated Racist Abuse Means Brazil Winger Vinicius Jr Feels ‘Less Like Playing’

Story Highlights
  • Brazil winger Vinicius Jr says he feels "less and less" like playing football because of the repeated racist abuse he has suffered.
  • However, he said he was finding it "hard to move forward" from the abuse.
  • Last season there were 10 such incidents against the 23-year-old reported to prosecutors by La Liga.

Brazil winger Vinicius Jr says he feels “less and less” like playing football because of the repeated racist abuse he has suffered.

Last season there were 10 such incidents against the 23-year-old reported to prosecutors by La Liga.

During an emotional news conference on Monday, Vinicius added he would not be forced to leave Real Madrid and Spain and let racism win.

However, he said he was finding it “hard to move forward” from the abuse.

Brazil face Spain in an international friendly at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid on Tuesday as part of an anti-racism campaign under the slogan ‘One skin’.

Vinicius said: “It never crossed my mind [to leave Spain] because if I leave Spain I give the racists exactly what they want.

“I will stay because that way the racists can continue to see my face more and more.

“I’m a bold player, I play for Real Madrid and we win a lot of titles and that doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.

“I just want to play football but it’s hard to move forward; I feel less and less like playing.”

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