- Vinícius Júnior and his Real Madrid teammates may walk off if faced with more racism.
- Three fans were jailed after abusing Vinícius at Valencia's stadium.
- Increased surveillance is making racists more cautious, giving hope for reduced racism.
Vinícius Júnior stated that he and his Real Madrid teammates are ready to walk off the pitch if he experiences further racist abuse from fans in LaLiga this season. The Brazil international has faced repeated instances of racial harassment, including an incident at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium in May 2023.
The incident in which Vinícius Júnior was subjected to racist abuse at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium led to three fans being jailed earlier this year. LaLiga described this verdict as the first of its kind in Spain, marking a significant legal precedent.
Despite this progress, Vinícius has continued to face racial abuse at various LaLiga venues. He has been targeted by supporters at Barcelona, Mallorca, Real Valladolid, Pamplona, and Sevilla, as well as during derbies against Atlético Madrid.
In a recent interview with CNN, Vinícius revealed that he and his Real Madrid teammates are prepared to respond differently if they encounter racism again. He emphasized that the team’s actions would be guided by their past experiences and the evolving stance on such issues.
The interview highlighted that during the Valencia incident, the match was temporarily halted after Vinícius identified the offending fans. This incident drew significant attention and spurred discussions about racism in football.
Vinícius expressed hope that the measures and increased awareness would lead to more effective actions against racism in the future. He stressed the importance of taking a firm stand to address and eradicate such behavior.
The ongoing issue of racial abuse in football remains a critical concern, and Vinícius’s stance reflects a growing call for stronger measures and greater accountability within the sport.
Vinícius Júnior revealed that Real Madrid players have discussed walking off the pitch if they face racist abuse again. He stated that leaving the field would impose a greater penalty on those responsible, although he understands not all fans share the same views.
Reflecting on the Valencia incident, Vinícius noted that the team felt walking off would have been the right move but chose not to disrupt the game, considering not everyone in the stadium was involved in the abuse.
He emphasized that while ending a match is challenging, it may be necessary to combat worsening racism. Vinícius stressed the need for strong actions to drive change.
LaLiga has been gathering evidence on racist incidents and forwarding it to prosecutors, though charges are sometimes not pursued. The league has called for legal changes to allow direct punishment and praised the Valencia verdict as a positive step.
Vinícius has noticed a shift in Spain, with racists becoming more cautious due to increased surveillance. He believes this change will help reduce racism over time, even if it cannot be completely eradicated.
He feels encouraged by the progress and believes his efforts are contributing to a broader change in attitudes towards racism in Spain.
